NSW Government Responds to Arts and Music Education Inquiry Recommendations with 10-Year Music Education Plan
The NSW Government has responded to the Arts and Music Education Inquiry report by supporting eight of 30 recommendations, and committing the development of a 10-year Music Education Plan—but further detail is needed to ensure real change.
Music Education: Right from the Start welcomes the NSW Government's commitment to a 10-year Music Education Plan, responding to a key recommendation from the Joint Select Committee into Arts and Music Education and Training in NSW (the Inquiry). This marks a major step forward for music education in the state.
The government’s response supports eight of the Inquiry’s 30 recommendations (with another eight supported in principle). Five responses commit to new or partially new actions, including the development of the Music Education Plan.
We are pleased that the NSW Department of Education, Create NSW, and Sound NSW will collaborate to create clearer pathways for arts and music organisations, artists, and musicians to engage with schools in support of music culture within schools. We also note the Department’s commitment to supporting the rollout of the new creative arts syllabus for K-6 in 2027. The timing of the Music Education Plan presents an opportunity to leverage investments in professional learning and curriculum resources as part of this rollout.
The Joint Select Committee’s Inquiry Report, delivered on 12 December 2024, features 30 recommendations, including outlining what a Music Education Plan should cover.
“We congratulate the NSW Government on committing to a 10-year Music Education Plan (Recommendation 12),” says Emily Albert, executive director at Alberts and head of Music Education: Right from the Start.
“It is our hope and expectation that this plan includes the details set out in the committee’s recommendation, which reflected the position of the music education sector—such as adopting a quality standard, setting ambitious targets, mandating classroom music education hours, and implementing a public reporting process.”
To ensure the plan’s effectiveness, we are now seeking confirmation that the Government’s plan, to be led by the NSW Department of Education, will incorporate these key elements, as well as clarity on the development process and timeline.
For real change to occur, we believe collaboration with individuals and organisations already dedicated to music education in NSW government primary schools will be essential. We encourage:
Forming an Advisory Group with diverse expertise to help shape the plan, including professional learning programs and curriculum resources. External music education experts should be part of this process.
The exploration of funding opportunities by the Department of Education in the upcoming budget to support implementation and ambitious targets.
Prior to the government’s response, Alberts | The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start released a detailed response to the Inquiry’s report, available here.
About the Inquiry
One of the Committee’s key findings is that quality, sequential, and ongoing music learning is essential for all students in NSW primary schools. The Committee's recommendations to deliver on this finding strongly align with those put forward by our initiative and collective advocacy across the music and education sectors.
Evidence put forward via 125 submissions and nearly 80 interviews highlighted critical gaps in the NSW teaching workforce’s capacity to deliver music education, underscoring the urgent need for reform in training, upskilling, and support for primary teachers.
As part of the Creative Communities policy, the Inquiry’s findings affirm the essential role of arts and music education in students’ holistic development and the need to address social and economic inequities in access. The process showcased collaboration across government, non-government sectors, and education experts.
We commend our collaborators for their dedication and thank the Chair of the Joint Select Committee, Julia Finn, and Committee members for their thoughtful engagement with diverse stakeholders to produce a non-partisan report with practical recommendations. We appreciate the ongoing bipartisan commitment to ensuring all primary school children have access to quality music education.
Looking Forward
We are eager to work with the NSW Department of Education and our collaborators to move the Government’s commitments from planning to action.
As noted by the Inquiry, the focus must be on building the capacity and confidence of in-service teachers in government primary schools, supporting school leaders in implementing necessary changes, and tracking curriculum delivery to ensure students who need music education most receive it.
“We know quality music education improves academic attainment, retention, engagement, well-being, and social development. But our concern remains: the students who need it most are often the least likely to receive it,” says Emily.
“The door is now open, and we urge the government to follow through with greater detail and action to ensure all students have access to quality music education.”
(Feature Image: Courtesy of Australian Children’s Music Foundation).
