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Rich Kid Poor Kid

The battle for public education: Vantage Point Issue 5
Brief Description
How did we get here? For decades, Australia has been pumping money into private education while public schools struggle. Whether it's crumbling classrooms, overworked teachers or cuts to music and STEM programs, the system is reaching breaking point. At the same time, with higher rates of... Read More
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How did we get here?

For decades, Australia has been pumping money into private education while public schools struggle. Whether it's crumbling classrooms, overworked teachers or cuts to music and STEM programs, the system is reaching breaking point. At the same time, with higher rates of private school attendance and the marketisation of education, parents have increased anxiety when faced with the decision of where to send their child. The current system contributes to greater inequity, decreased integration of different communities and even traffic jams as parents are more likely to drive their kids to a private school further from their house.

How did we get here?

Jane Caro walks through the decades of policy decisions that have created this situation and identifies the choices that have created the current education crisis. With her trademark no-nonsense analysis and drawing from her personal experiences, Caro lays out the steps that brought us to this point and what Australia can do to get a public education system worthy of such a wealthy country.

Rich Kid Poor Kid is an essential read for anyone concerned about the future of education in Australia.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781764220545

Publisher: Black Inc.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 April 2026

Country: Australia

Imprint: Australia Institute Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 1.0mm

Width: 1.0mm

Height: 1.0mm

Weight: 1g

Pages: 128

About the Author

Jane Caro AM is a Walkley award-winning Australian columnist, author, feminist, public education activist and social commentator. She is also a multi-award-winning advertising copywriter and an academic. She is on the boards of The Public Education Foundation and Every Age Counts.

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