Who we are
All Means All is the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education, a nationwide multi-stakeholder alliance working to implement an inclusive education system and remove the legal, structural and attitudinal barriers that limit the rights of some students, including students with disabilities, to access full inclusive education in regular classrooms in Australian schools.
Our objectives include:
- the creation of resources and the provision of training and education to support inclusive education;
- supporting, commissioning or undertaking relevant research and study;
- lobbying for and informing change in legislation, policy and practice to ensure inclusive education as a right for all;
- consolidating and focusing the Australian movement for full inclusive education to accelerate the necessary systemic and attitudinal change for the benefit of every Australian student;
- collaborating with relevant stakeholder groups and community organisations to promote the Australian movement for full inclusive education nationally and internationally; and
- community education about the value and importance of full inclusive education for all Australian students.
Our alliance includes and welcomes families, people with disabilities, academic experts, teachers, education assistants, school principals and other members of the community interested in supporting the right of every Australian student to access an inclusive education and the aims and objectives of All Means All.
Our Networks initiative further seeks to foster connections and collaborations within specific stakeholder groups or communities in our broader network, to support the achievement of our shared objectives. Our dedicated School Inclusion Network for Educators (SINE), School Inclusion Parent Network (SIPN and Academic Network for Inclusive Education (ANIE) have hundreds of members across Australia and provide valuable insights to inform the work of All Means All.
Our Board leads the governance and strategic direction of All Means All and receives support and advice from a range of Experts and Advisors.
What guides us
We believe that all students, including students with disability, have a right to receive an inclusive education and Australia has a corresponding obligation to ensure an inclusive education system.
When we talk about inclusive education we do not mean segregated, separate or self-contained programs or classes for students with disability or learning or behavioural difficulties in schools.
Our work is guided by a human rights framework including the principles embodied in:
- the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the most authoritative expression of the human rights of people with disability, including the right to inclusive education under Article 24, which was explained in General Comment No. 4 (Right to Inclusive Education) (August 2016), the instrument issued by the Convention's treaty monitoring body, the Committee on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, outlining the proper interpretation and application of Article 24, including the responsibilities of States Parties.
Member of Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education and Inclusion International
All Means All is a proud member and national Co-convenor of the Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education (ACIE), an initiative that brings together organisations from around Australia that share a commitment to advance Inclusive Education in Australia and across State and Territory education systems.
All Means All is also a proud member of Inclusion International which has mobilised its global networks and technical expertise to build Catalyst for Inclusive Education, a global knowledge network for inclusive education.
