The Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools (also known as the Gonski Review 2.0) recommends the establishment of a national evidence body.
2019
All Australian governments agree to create an institute to position Australia’s educators at the forefront of education research to improve learning outcomes for all children and young people.
2020
The National School Reform Agreement aimed at lifting outcomes across Australian education includes creating a national evidence organisation as one of its national policy initiatives.
Dr Jenny Donovan is appointed inaugural CEO of AERO and an independent Board is announced.
AERO develops its First Work Plan outlining how the Strategic Plan and research priorities operate together.
2021
AERO is incorporated with the vision to achieve excellence and equity in educational outcomes for all children and young people through effective use of evidence.
AERO develops and publishes its Strategic Plan (2021–24) outlining how AERO will work towards its vision for Australia to achieve excellence and equity in educational outcomes for all children and young people through effective use of evidence.
AERO develops and publishes its Data Strategy, laying the foundations necessary to support its safe, ethical and effective use of data, and focusing on the 5 pillars of governance, people, data assets, infrastructure and Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
AERO begins partnering with and building research ethics and governance relationships with external Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) services.
2023
AERO begins its learning partner project, working directly with early childhood education and care (ECEC) services as well as schools to understand the effectiveness of a deliberate and structured approach to implementing evidence-based teaching practices.
AERO launches its first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that sets out the actions AERO will take to build the role it can play in Australia’s progress towards reconciliation.
AERO publishes its model of learning and teaching, identifying the most effective and efficient evidence-based teaching practices aligned with how students learn best.
2024
The First Nations Expert Reference Group (ERG) is established, comprising over 240 members as part of AERO’s commitment to embedding First Nations perspectives in education research and initiatives.
2025
AERO launches its First Nations Charter, establishing the foundations and mechanisms through which the organisation will pursue reconciliation efforts and confirming AERO’s commitment to First Nations peoples through the work that it performs and the operations enabling that work.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) approves the registration of AERO’s HREC.
