ACER research recognised by the Governor General

What is the music education survey? 

The music education survey gathers information from teachers and leadership about the who, what, when and how music education is occurring in public primary schools. It also considers the enablers and barriers to providing a sequential, quality music education for all students. 

The Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) has worked with Music Education Right from the Start (MERS) to run 2 surveys – one in South Australia and one in NSW – looking at the state of play of music education in public primary schools. MERS is the philanthropic wing of the Alberts family which has been in the music industry for over 100 years. 

Why is the research important? 

The survey supports system-level understanding, policy development and advocacy by providing valid and reliable data from 95 schools. 

In NSW, the survey data fed into the NSW Parliament Joint Select Committee on Arts and Music Education and Training, which explicitly cited ACER’s survey as evidence to the committee. The Minister for the Arts developed a 10‑year music education plan for NSW based on the findings of this inquiry.  

In South Australia, at the launch of the survey, the SA government announced a $7.5 million funding boost for music education focused on teacher professional learning, upskilling of non‑specialist teachers, and provision of musical instruments and facilities.

'A highlight of the event was watching the students and staff of Homebush West Primary School play Coldplay on the violin and recorders’, said Rebecca Taylor, Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). 

‘It was a good reminder of why we were there - to support all students to get access to a quality music education.’

Next steps for the survey 

The MERS team recently submitted a position paper to the review of the National Cultural Policy, citing data collected in ACER's music education survey. 

The key recommendations are to: 

1. Strengthen the role of creative arts education in the national cultural policy  
   - Preferred approach: Establish a Creative Arts Education Pillar  
   - Alternative approach: Elevate Creative Arts Education Across All Policy Pillars  

2. Establish a national standard for quality music education  

3. Invest in the music education workforce  

4. Track progress through national data. 

‘We’re hoping to expand the survey to other states and territories, and to repeat it in New South Wales and South Australia’, says Rebecca.

‘The data will help our leaders and policymakers ensure that all children have access to music education in their schools, and that their teachers are adequately supported to be comfortable and confident to teach them.’

More about the music education survey 

• Understanding the delivery of music learning in NSW public school 

• Understanding the delivery of music education in SA public school 

• Teachers report low confidence and support for music education