Education & researchStatutory authorityExists today
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
ACARA
8 December 2008 – present
Independent statutory authority, directed jointly by Commonwealth, state and territory education ministers, responsible for the Australian Curriculum, the National Assessment Program including NAPLAN, and national reporting on schooling through the My School website.
How it came into existence
Established on 8 December 2008 under section 5 of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Act 2008, and began operating on 28 May 2009 when its Board was appointed, taking over the curriculum work of the interim National Curriculum Board.
Legislation: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Act 2008
Changes during its life
- 28 May 2009Began operating on the appointment of its Board.
- 18 September 2013Moved to the Department of Education portfolio.
- 23 December 2014Became part of the Department of Education and Training portfolio.
- 29 May 2019Became part of the Department of Education portfolio.
- 1 February 2020Became part of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment portfolio.
- 1 July 2022Became part of the Department of Education portfolio.
- National curriculum development in English, mathematics, science and history
Main functions
- Development of the Australian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 12
- National Assessment Program, including NAPLAN
- Collection and publication of school performance data
- My School website
- National Report on Schooling in Australia
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Education.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Education
- Accountable authority
- ACARA Board – Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Act 2008 sections 5 and 11, with reference to section 19 note (membership section 13)
- ABN
- 54 735 928 084
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))