Australian Framework for Student Empowerment
About the AFSE
Empowering Students, Transforming Education
The Australian Framework for Student Empowerment (AFSE) is a national initiative aimed at strengthening student voice, agency, advocacy, and partnerships in education. It provides a set of guiding principles and practical strategies to help schools, educators, and policymakers create environments where students are recognised as active participants in shaping their learning and school communities.
Developed through extensive consultation and research, the AFSE does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it offers a flexible framework that can be adapted to different school and community contexts, ensuring that student empowerment is both meaningful and sustainable.
By establishing clear standards and guidelines, the AFSE helps schools foster inclusive, student-centred learning environments where students have genuine opportunities to contribute, lead, and advocate for change.
Project scope
The AFSE is being developed to provide a comprehensive set of standards and guidelines for strengthening student empowerment within schools and broader education communities. The framework serves as a roadmap for schools, educators, and policymakers to embed student voice, agency, and leadership into their everyday practices.
Rather than dictating specific curriculum content or pedagogical methods, the AFSE focuses on overarching principles and strategies that support student empowerment across diverse educational settings. This ensures that all schools—regardless of their structure, location, or community context—can find meaningful ways to integrate student voice into decision-making.
The project is being guided by a Steering Committee and informed by broad stakeholder engagement, ensuring it reflects the diverse perspectives and needs of the Australian education sector. By working together, we can create a more inclusive, equitable, and student-driven education system for all young people.
Consultations
The development of the AFSE has been guided by a collaborative, evidence-informed approach, ensuring that it reflects the needs and experiences of students and educators across Australia. Through multiple rounds of consultation, we have gathered insights from a diverse range of voices to shape a framework that is both practical and impactful.
AFSE has been developed through an extensive consultation process, engaging:
Students to understand their experiences, aspirations, and the barriers they face in having a genuine voice in education.
Educators and school leaders to explore what works, where challenges lie, and how schools can create conditions for meaningful student empowerment.
Researchers and policymakers to ensure the framework aligns with best practices and supports systemic change.
Community and industry representatives to consider how student empowerment connects with broader societal and workforce opportunities.
Our consultations have highlighted several key themes.
A strong demand for guidance: Schools and educators are seeking clear, practical strategies for embedding student empowerment into everyday practice.
Existing strengths and opportunities: Many schools and communities already demonstrate strong commitment to student voice, but need better systemic support.
Structural barriers: Despite good intentions, many education settings struggle with restrictive policies, assumptions about student capability, and a lack of resources for sustained student-led initiatives.
The importance of context: Empowerment looks different across settings, and a flexible, adaptable approach is needed to ensure all students can meaningfully participate.
We continue to refine the framework based on feedback and targeted consultations, particularly with young people. By centering student experiences and working collaboratively with stakeholders, AFSE will provide a foundation for sustainable, meaningful change in Australian education.
Project Governance
The Steering Committee brings together diverse perspectives from across Australia, ensuring the framework is shaped by those with deep experience in student empowerment, education, and policy.
This committee plays a critical role in guiding AFSE’s development, ensuring it reflects best practice, lived experience, and sector-wide needs. Members include students, educators, researchers, and representatives from key educational organisations.
AFSE Launch
The Australian Framework for Student Empowerment will officially launch at SVC 2025, bringing together students, educators, and stakeholders to celebrate this milestone and explore how AFSE can drive real change in education.