The last ten years have been even more essential in drafting an educational agenda meant to guarantee that minorities are provided with equal opportunities. In spite of all efforts, however, progress was slow and little has changed when considering education opportunities. Whereas most people would be inclined to consider that the government is solely responsible for this, the truth is that minorities have actually contributed to this situation. Having been used to centuries of discrimination, most minorities were unenthusiastic about the benefits that they would be provided with as a result of reform in the educational system. Many individuals in charge of educational programs directed at educating minorities express lack of interest in their field of work and can be held accountable for the fact that a great deal of individuals gradually develop distrust in public officials and in education in general. Even with the fact that they support educational programs meant to provide underprivileged individuals with equal opportunities, many teachers consider that change will occur over a large period of time and that some programs are actually useless. In order to be able to have success in reforming the educational system, the government needs to accept the fact that there is "a close relationship between low levels of Indigenous educational outcomes and poverty, health, housing and access to government services and infrastructure, but there is a lack of efficient and effective mechanisms to address cross-portfolio issues for Indigenous students" (Achieving Educational Equality for Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Peoples, 9).

Gender is yet another issue that should be considered when concerning education in Australia, as "females have unequal access to education and training opportunities, which leads to low literacy levels and employment in unskilled, low status jobs" (Gender Equality). Because they have difficulty occupying important positions, Australians have generally acknowledged the fact that partnership between men and women and between majorities and minorities are essential in assisting a country in experiencing progress.
All things considered, the Australian government seems to be particularly interested in eliminating discrimination. The authorities have apparently recognized that education is one of the best methods to reduce the gap between groups that are favored and groups that are discriminated.

Works cited:

Argy, Fred, "Equality of opportunity in Australia Myth and reality," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the Australia Institute Website: http://www.tai.org.au/documents/downloads/DP85.pdf

Argy, Fred. "Education inequalities in Australia," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the University of Western Australia Website: http://www.ias.uwa.edu.au/new-critic/five/educationinequalities

Keane, Bernard, "Australia's mixed economy -- why health and education reform matters," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the Crikey Website: http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/03/22/australias-mixed-economy-why-health-and-education-reform-matters/

Kennedy, Steven, "The Relationship between Education and Health in Australia and Canada," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the McMaster University Website: http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/sedap/p/sedap93.pdf

Lo Bianco, Joseph "Making language policy: Australia's experience" in Baldauf, R.B. Jr. And Luke, A. (eds.) Language Planning and Education in Australasia and the South Pacific, (Multilingual Matters 55) Philadelphia, Clevedon, 1990.

"A statistical overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the Australian Human Rights Commission Website: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/statistics/index.html#Heading363

"Achieving Educational Equality for Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the Education Services Australia Website: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/reporta_file.pdf

"Gender Equality," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the Global Education Website: http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/517

"National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia launch," Retrieved August 25, 2011, from the MulticulturalAustralia Website: http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/doc/hawke_1.pdf