Australian youth get a voice around the country
In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Australian Government is reaching out to young Australians, including many facing disadvantage and other significant challenges. The 'youTHINK: Your Say' event, held in more than 40 locations across Australia, encouraged young people to speak out on important issues and engage in conversations about practical solutions. DEEWR Media release, 30 June 2009.

Professor warns against league tables
Australia must avoid the allure of simple but potentially misleading approaches to comparing the performances of schools, according to the chief executive of the Australian Council for Educational Research, Professor Geoff Masters. ACER, 30 June 2009.

SA steps up fight on net bullies
Efforts to combat cyber-bullying are being stepped up in South Australia. Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith has launched a program under which students sign agreements not to use internet sites or mobile phones to bully other students. ABC News, 30 June 2009.

Teen boys outdo girls at maths, science
Australian teenage boys have bucked international trends and outperformed girls in maths and science, new data shows. Sydney Morning Herald, 30 June 2009.

Historic modernisation program for Australian Secondary Schools
The Australian Government has announced funding of $810 million to bring Australian secondary schools into the 21st century. A total of 537 science laboratories and language learning centres will be built or refurbished under the first stage of the Science and Language Centres for the 21st Century Secondary Schools element of the Building the Education Revolution. Minister for Education, 30 June 2009.

U.S study finds that good teaching can be enhanced with new technology
The U.S. Department of Education has released an analysis of controlled studies comparing online and face-to-face instruction. The analysis shows that combining elements of online and face-to-face instruction has a larger advantage relative to purely face to face instruction or instruction conducted wholly online. 'This new report reinforces that effective teachers need to incorporate digital content into everyday classes' said the U.S. Secretary of Education. U.S Department of Education, 26 June 2009.

Aspiring Qld teachers to be tested
Prospective Queensland teachers will have to prove their own literacy and numeracy skills before they can enter the classroom. The tests will be developed by the Queensland College of Teachers and trialled on student teachers next year, before they are introduced in 2011. Sydney Morning Herald, 29 June 2009.

'Personality tests' for teachers
Teacher training applicants in England are to face psychometric tests before being offered a place on a course, to ensure they are well suited to the job. BBC News, 26 June 2009.

Technology lesson one: teach the teachers
Leading technology academics have warned that the rollout of communication infrastructure in the education revolution will be wasted if teachers do not know how to use it. The Australian, 25 June 2009.

Teacher training 'needs fund boost'
Funding for teacher training needs to be boosted to the levels enjoyed by nursing to allow more intensive in-school training, according to Melbourne University's dean of education. The Australian, 23 June 2009.