On 12 February 2025, The Fogarty Foundation, in collaboration with the UWA Public Policy Institute, hosted EDUCATED, a thought-provoking breakfast event focused on shaping the future of education in Western Australia. Bringing together educators, policymakers, and community leaders, the event served as a platform to discuss innovative ideas and explore the challenges and opportunities facing WA’s education system. Central to the conversation was a compelling message: Education is everyone’s responsibility.

Moderated by Emeritus Professor Bill Louden AM, the event featured a distinguished panel of speakers:

Hon Dr. Tony Buti, WA Minister for Education
Annie Fogarty AM, Founder of The Fogarty Foundation
Cameron Thorn, Director of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy WA & Djoowak: Beyond Boundaries Institute
Anish Badgeri, Head of Learning Community at Shenton College, UWA Fogarty Alum, and John Monash Scholar

The discussion explored a wide range of topics, including policy initiatives, workforce development, and how to future-proof education in WA. Key takeaways from the event included:

Strengthening WA’s education system to ensure it is adaptable to the ever-changing needs of students, communities, and industries.
Empowering educators and schools with the necessary resources, planning, and support to create a more effective and inclusive education system.
The need to prepare students for the future, with a particular focus on integrating technology, AI, and data literacy into the curriculum alongside entrepreneurship and critical thinking skills.
Holistic education—taking a multidisciplinary approach to learning that considers the whole child and encourages creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.
The continued importance of foundational skills such as literacy and numeracy, while also ensuring that students develop competencies applicable in the real world.
The proposal of a unified secondary education system, as envisioned by the Minister, that could better align educational pathways and ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

In addition to the expert panel discussion, EDUCATED also featured a Student Voices segment, where we captured the perspectives of students from across WA. These students shared their hopes, ideas, and aspirations for the future of education. Their insights emphasised the importance of a system that is both responsive to their needs and prepared to equip them with the skills necessary for a rapidly changing world.

This event marks the beginning of a wider conversation that The Fogarty Foundation is committed to continuing. The EDUCATED campaign is a long-term initiative aimed at connecting communities, fostering dialogue, and keeping education at the forefront of public discussion. Through ongoing engagement, the Foundation seeks to ensure that education remains a central focus in shaping the future of WA, connecting educators, students, and the wider community to collectively drive change.

Join the conversation—what do you think the future of education should look like?