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In early 2011, GAP assembled a high-powered group of
senior representatives from academia, the artistic community,
government, business and not-for-profit organisations to examine
the current state of tertiary music education in Australia.
The group assessed the repercussions of the major structural
change which occurred when conservatoria were amalgamated with universities as part of the Dawkins educational reforms in the 1990s. It reviewed proposals for reform recently put before the Australian Government and
addressed specific challenges facing the sector.
The Task Force's final report, released on 4 October 2011, sets out how Australian tertiary music education can be revitalised at relatively little cost to
the benefit of the cultural and economic health of the nation.
<< Download TERTIARY MUSIC IN AUSTRALIA report [PDF 1MB]
<< Read blogs on KEY RECOMMENDATIONS by Prof Kim Walker NEW!
The Task Force concluded that twenty years after the 'Dawkins Revolution',
tertiary music education in Australia is seriously underfunded compared with international peers.
A failure to appreciate the unique requirements of professional music education and problems with the current classification system and costing methodology
have caused significant funding distortions and disenfranchised conservatoria within the university system. Government needs to rectify the inefficiencies of the current funding model and the public and private sector alike should recognise the potential of Australia's emerging musicians and composers to achieve global excellence and invest accordingly.
The establishment of the Tertiary Music Education Task Force was greeted with interest by many colleagues in Australia and abroad. The Task Force was chaired by Mr Ralph Evans,
Chair of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Board of Advice, and included prominent figures from Australia's artistic community.
<< Download Task Force Members [PDF 1MB]
The Task Force met four times in the course of 2011 under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution, with international observers offering their feedback by correspondence.
The report represents a range of diverse personal opinions and the varied interests of the individuals and organisations participating in the Task Force. It should not be assumed that every participant would agree with every recommendation in full.
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