Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming educational systems worldwide. In December 2025, the Australian Government released its National AI Plan that calls for greater community and industry engagement to explore practical ways to support responsible deployment. New research on governing AI in education, supported by an APPI Policy Challenge Grant, offers practical examples for supporting responsible deployment and equitable use of AI in education.
A multiuniversity team from the University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney and the University of Bergen in Norway – led by Professor Kalervo Gulson and supported through an APPI Policy Challenge Grant – conducted a study within the NSW EdTech ecosystem, testing two participatory methods to inform AI policy in school education.
Working with students, teachers, policymakers, and technologists, this report identified opportunities to enhance the use of AI in Australian education through participatory approaches and tools that engage educators, students, and communities. This includes innovative, non-regulatory mechanisms to guide the responsible evolution of its use.
Key findings have been translated into policy opportunities for the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and education sectors, to improve governance, strengthen oversight and develop policy capability. They include operationalising local engagement to identify AI risks and benefits, establishing a permanent Advisory Council for AI in Education, and strengthening equity and inclusion in EdTech procurement.
This study highlights policy opportunities that the Australian Government can seize to proactively navigate the complex landscape of AI in education, supporting both educational outcomes and equity. “With the global AI education market forecasted to reach US$22 billion by 2028, proactive governance and policy tools to ensure safety and equity have become more critical. Participatory methods elevate critical implementation issues, equity considerations, and broaden participation of groups often left out of decision-making, to ensure AI is leveraged with the chance of being effective and fair,” noted Professor Kalervo Gulson, the lead author.
“The opportunities outlined in this report provide a roadmap of actionable, participatory strategies to take advantage of the benefits that AI can bring to classrooms,” added Isabella Whealing, Head of Social Policy at the Australian Public Policy Institute. “The APPI Policy Challenge Grants program supports timely, policy-relevant issues such as these, outlining practical steps that are front-of-mind for policymakers today.”
