About us
We are a network of peak national professional arts and arts education associations who represent arts educators across Australia.
We advocate for ‘The Arts’, a key learning area in the Australian Curriculum, which contains the five discrete subjects: Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts.
As the recognised peak association in the arts learning and professional development area, we provide a united voice for arts education through our policy advice and support for decision makers. We work with government agencies, teachers, schools and tertiary institutions.
We advocate for sequential and developmental arts education in schools, develop arts education policy and promote quality teaching and learning in the arts.
We provides access to an extensive network of arts educators and artists and we represent the interests, concerns, values and priorities of arts educators and practitioners across Australia.
We are:
Dr John Nicholas Saunders, NAAE Chair
Julie Dyson AM, Chair Emeritus and Observer
Art Education Australia
Established in 1976 as the not-for-profit Australian Institute of Art Education, AEA is the peak national professional association of visual arts educators. AEA is concerned with the scholarly exploration and promotion of art education theory, practice and research. It performs a cohesive role among visual arts educators and encourages and promotes all facets of visual arts education. AEA publishes a national peer-reviewed research journal and provides a national forum and opportunity for the exchange of ideas for all people working in Australia in aspects of visual arts education.
President, Dr Abbey MacDonald; AEA proxy, Professor Margaret Baguley
Australian Dance Council—Ausdance
Ausdance is Australia's professional dance advocacy organisation and peak body for dance. It has a 40-year history of educating, inspiring and supporting the dance community to reach its potential as a dynamic force within local, national and international communities. Australian is a leader in dance advocacy and in bringing new resources and funding to the profession through partnerships and collaborations. Ausdance National has been a leader in dance education policy and research throughout its history. Ausdance is part of a network of Ausdance organisations delivering integrated programs across the country.
NAAE Secretary Sue Fox; Lesley Graham
Australian Society for Music Education
Established in 1967, ASME aims to encourage and advance music education at all levels as an integral part of general education and community life, and as a profession within the broad field of music. ASME supports the right of every person to a musical education; promotes quality music education; assists music educators to develop and extend their professional awareness of the whole spectrum of music education at a local, national and international levels; maintains and develops the status of music; provides a forum for the exchange of ideas; encourages Australian music and composers; develops teaching methods relevant to Australian students in all contexts; publishes news and research.
Vice-President, Dr Jason Goopy; Past President, Robyn Veitch
Australian Teachers of Media
ATOM National is the peak national body that advocates on behalf of all state and territory media education associations in Australia. ATOM provides professional development for teachers, publishes Screen Education and Metro magazines, liaises with tertiary and industry sectors and serves as a central hub for the media education community. ATOM publishes study guides and education kits; The Moving Image series of monographs, and websites for feature films, documentaries and television programs. ATOM also runs The Education Shop and The Speakers’ Bureau, and organises screenings of features films and documentaries for teachers. ATOM holds a national conference every two years and recognises excellence in over 30 categories of film, television, animation and multimedia at the EnhanceTV ATOM Awards annually.
Chair (ATOM Qld/National), Roger Dunscombe; Moneth Montemayor
Derek Weeks (Observer)
Drama Australia
Drama Australia is the peak national body that represents and advocates on behalf of all state and territory drama education associations in Australia. It has an Executive board of directors made up of representatives from across the country. Each state and territory association has a Drama Australia Liaison Officer (DALO) and there is an International Liaison Officer (ILO) on the board. Drama Australia provides national leadership for drama education through advocacy, liaison, representation and arts policy; initiates and produces projects and research in drama and education; produces publications about drama and education; builds links and strategic partnerships with national arts education and arts Industry bodies.
Vice-President Dr Jo Raphael; Director of Strategic Partnerships (primary representative), Assoc. Professor Susan Davis OAM.
Prof. Sandra Gattenhof (Observer)
The National Association for the Visual Arts
NAVA is the national peak body for the visual arts, providing advocacy, leadership and services to achieve a thriving Australian visual arts, craft and design sector and a more vibrant, distinctive and ethical cultural environment. Since its establishment in 1983, NAVA has provided research and advocacy, policy and project development to encourage the growth and development of the sector and set industry standards to increase professionalism within the industry. It has also provided direct services to its constituents through offering expert advice, representation, resources and a range of other services. NAVA's constituency includes visual artists, craft practitioners and designers, other arts professionals including curators, educators, arts writers and critics, arts administrators, art librarians and agents, and a range of organisations including public, artist-run and commercial galleries, arts agencies, art service organisations, educational institutions, arts publications, manufacturers and retailers.
Executive Director, Penelope Benton