Global narratives of educational philanthropy tend to emphasise the significant influence donors have in shaping public school policy and practice. In Australia, however, tax laws work to narrow the possibilities for philanthropy to exert influence over public schooling. Indeed, public schools (unlike private schools and Higher Education institutions) are unable to receive ‘direct’ philanthropic income, yet they can benefit from philanthropically supported programmes and services.
Delving into this complex regulatory environment, this paper maps the types of philanthropic actors – including foundations, charities, intermediaries, not-for-profits, churches and Parent and Citizen associations – that are working with/in Australian public schools, and questions their potential to influence school policy and practice. We cautiously argue that edu-philanthropy in the Australian context is not a picture of policy distortion, but one that is responding to the current policy context of economic rationalism and the rollback of the welfare state, to support and enrich public schooling.
This study, conducted by Dr Anna Hogan and ACPNS researcher, Dr Alexandra Williamson, identifies six key categories of organisations that work with public schools; intermediary organisations; general charities; not-for-profit organisations; churches; public schools; and philanthropic foundations.
Suggested citation
Anna Hogan & Alexandra Williamson (2022) Mapping categories of philanthropy in Australian public schooling, Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, DOI: 10.1080/01596306.2022.2071841
Request a copy via eprints at https://eprints.qut.edu.au/230014
