ABSTRACT
Parent opinion was first recognised in the Education Act 1872 ruling that each school was to have a Board of Advice, which was to include parents and citizen representation. Since the 1970s school systems in Australia have attempted to devolve their control over school decision-making and encourage the participation of parents, teachers and students. A powerful impetus to this governance movement was the Karmel Report, entitled Schools in Australia, which was a seminal influence in developing the broader participation of parents and community within local schools. Parental involvement in school activities did change from the beginning of the 1980s. There was a movement from parental duties to parent participation in school decision-making. Similar results were found in another ‘Areas Study’ project with three primary schools in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. A policy subcommittee of the school council was to collate submissions and forward them to school council for comment and further action.
