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We have a vision that all Australian children receive a high-quality education, equal to that of the highest-performing countries, regardless of school sector. We work alongside governments and partners to support systemic change that improves education outcomes for all Australian students, with a particular focus on those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Our role is to help identify promising policy and structural reforms, address barriers to change, and connect people and ideas that can drive meaningful progress. Drawing on robust research, evidence, and international best practice, we help adapt and develop approaches that are practical, effective, and relevant to the Australian context. By working with governments and education partners, we aim to strengthen implementation and amplify what works.
Major education program
Multi-School Organisations (MSOs) represent a promising new approach to advancing educational equity, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Based on the McKinnon funded Grattan Institute’s report “Spreading Success", an MSO is defined as a family or group of schools, bound together through a united executive leadership that is accountable for student outcomes and who share resources, expertise, and management.
McKinnon’s goal is to further this work by extending Australia’s understanding of the MSO model and support the design and implementation of pilots to develop a local evidence-base.
Our approach seeks to build understanding and momentum for this initiative by engaging with state MPs, system leaders, and education stakeholders. Through international study tours, expert engagement, and collaborative design processes, we are helping to strengthen local capability and ensure that MSOs are implemented in a way that is practical and scalable.
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Groundbreaking MSO pilot
Across Australia one in three students don't meet literacy or numeracy benchmarks.
In England, a new approach has transformed outcomes.
Multi-School Organisations (MSOs) bring families of schools together under shared executive leadership. Following a McKinnon Study Tour in 2024, Tasmania announced a groundbreaking five-year trial of the MSO model.
Other education support
Grattan Institute is an independent, non-partisan public policy research institute. The education program focuses on improving student outcomes through evidence-based policy reform. It conducts in-depth research on teaching quality, school leadership, curriculum, equity, and system-level change, providing practical recommendations to governments and education leaders across Australia.
McKinnon provided funding for the “Spreading Success: Why Australia should trial multi-school organisations” report in March 2024. We continue to support them to provide research and advice to state governments considering piloting the MSO model.
The Centre for Independent Studies Education program focuses on research and policy recommendations that improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes. CIS advocates for evidence-based improvements to our education system rather than an inputs-based approach, which has seen an increase in government spending without an associated improvement in education outcomes.
Through our funding, CIS has been able to:
Invest in research and advocacy on the Science of Learning to provide practical resources for teachers, including the publication of papers and roundtable events
Research and advocacy in early numeracy screening, including the pilot of an early numeracy screening tool in over 100 schools, reaching 500 teachers and 6000 students to collect a robust evidence base to inform early numeracy education
Early Years Education research including the economics of early education, preschool outcomes measurement and how to embed the science of learning into policy and practice in early years
Ochre Education is a not-for-profit organisation that creates high-quality, evidence-based teaching resources—free and accessible to all educators. By collaborating with expert teachers and researchers, Ochre delivers practical, curriculum-aligned materials designed to reduce teacher workload and improve student outcomes. Their mission is to support great teaching in every classroom, every day.
McKinnon supports Ochre’s innovative approach to improving education quality and reducing educator workload by providing core funding to help develop and scale their model. Our support has enabled Ochre to conduct market research to better understand the needs of educators, strengthen their product offering and reach, and invest in evaluation to assess impact. This core funding also contributes to the organisation’s long-term sustainability, allowing them to focus on delivering high-quality resources and expanding their impact across Australia.
explore more from mckinnon
leadership
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Public Sector
The effectiveness of Australia’s public sector directly impacts our nation’s productivity and success. That is why we invest in developing measurable frameworks that drive impact and making research and resources accessible and useable.
Democracy
A resilient and vibrant democracy requires constant vigilance and renewal. With declining trust in institutions, global disruptions, and youth disengagement, supporting and strengthening our democratic foundations has become critical for Australia’s future.