Government

The Rudd Government’s launch today (Thursday) of the Australian Youth Forum (AYF) represents a new era in the way the Australian Government will engage with young Australians.

School students should study Picasso alongside pictures of Elle Macpherson's underwear as part of a recasting of visual arts education away from traditional forms to include images of all kinds.

A federal government report, released yesterday, argues for visual education, or "visuacy", to take its place alongside literacy and numeracy as a foundation skill in compulsory schooling.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard has urged the release of more details about the country's schools because she says it will deliver a fairer system for all students.

Speaking in Brisbane at a conference organised by the Australian Council of Educational Research, Ms Gillard has made a case for what she describes as "evidence based" reform in Australian schools.

Parents across Australia should keep their receipts for education expenses from the first of July to make the most of the benefits available under the Rudd Government's $4.4 billion Education Tax Refund.

The Education Tax Refund will provide parents with much-needed help for education expenses, with refunds of up to:

* $375 per primary school student; and

The Bligh Government has developed new guidelines to help schools address the complex issue of school truancy.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the new Guidelines to address chronic absenteeism, school refusal and truancy were developed to help schools identify types of absenteeism and possible responses.