Equity in education
The QSA is committed to equity in education and to providing services and materials that challenge inequities and contribute to Queensland students receiving a socially just education. All QSA materials contain information regarding the equitable education of all students. The following policies, statements and learning resources detail and support this commitment.
On this page:
- Equity statement
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
- Supporting students with diverse learning needs
- Planning for equity in the curriculum
- More information
Equity statement
- QSA Equity statement (PDF, 140 kB)
The QSA undertakes all its functions based on the equity principles included within this statement.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
The QSA is working to increase awareness of Indigenous perspectives and improve outcomes for Indigenous students in Queensland schools. More information on QSA strategies, resources, projects and initiatives is available in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives section of the website.
Supporting students with diverse learning needs
The needs of students with diverse learning needs must be considered in a proactive way – to design inclusive learning and assessment programs, and to provide opportunities for alternative assessment arrangements. Inclusive strategies enable a learner with diverse learning needs to participate in learning experiences on the same basis as a learner without disabilities.
A teacher makes required adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment to enable a student with diverse learning needs to demonstrate knowledge, skills or competencies.
Assessment packages that include information to enable the participation of students with disabilities and students with intellectual impairments are available from the Assessment Bank.
The teacher guidelines that accompany the Queensland Comparable Assessment Tasks (QCATs) provide guidance to schools on special consideration and providing opportunities for all students to participate in these QCATs.
The NAPLAN Test Preparation Handbook describes reasonable adjustments to standard assessment requirements to enable equitable assessment access and participation for all students.
The QCS Test Special Provisions Handbook details what reasonable adjustments can be made to standard assessment requirements to enable equitable assessment access and participation for all students.
The QCIA recognises the schooling achievements of students who have impairments or difficulties in learning. The QCIA reports the specific learning achievements of students who are undertaking an individualised learning program.
Planning for equity in the curriculum
The Early Years Curriculum Guidelines and the Years 1 to 10 syllabuses and guidelines include information about equity in the curriculum.
Building Student Success provides information on planning for the diverse needs of all learners in Years 1–9.
Each of the QSA's senior syllabuses provides guidance about educational equity in the senior phase of learning.
The Moderation and quality assurance section of the website details the policies and procedures for making reasonable educational adjustments to assessment conditions to enable equitable assessment access and participation for all students.
- Equity Considerations for the Development of Curriculum and Test Materials (PDF, 179 kB)
These guidelines supported the development of the Years 1 to 10 Key Learning Area (KLA) syllabuses. - Guidelines for Assessment Quality and Equity (PDF, 68 kB)
These guidelines seek to enable equity in senior secondary assessment, so that all students have the same opportunity to demonstrate their learning.
More information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students research
- Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
- Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities (ACACA)
- Disability Discrimination Act — Education Standards
- Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
- Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians
Last reviewed: 15 February 2011