Alberts Music Education Limited
- Project: Music Education in Victoria
- Amount: $254,600 over two years
- Year(s) Funded: 2026
Music Education in Victoria
Exploring how music education is delivered in Victorian primary schools and its role in supporting student learning
Research led by Dr Anita Collins will examine how music education is currently delivered in Victorian government primary schools and explore the relationship between a teacher’s musical capability, music teaching quality and student outcomes. While the benefits of music learning are well established, there is limited evidence to inform decisions about how music education can be delivered effectively across the school system.
The project aims to establish a baseline understanding of music education in Victorian primary schools. It will examine current delivery models, identify gaps and areas of consistent practice, and assess the factors that support high-quality music learning. The findings will inform teacher development, workforce planning and future policy discussions.
This work aligns with Helen Macpherson Smith Trust’s Education strategy by strengthening the evidence available to educators, policymakers and other stakeholders. It will support decisions about teaching practice and system-level approaches to music education in Victoria, while contributing to broader discussions about educational quality, workforce capability and student engagement.
The research seeks to build a clearer understanding of the conditions that enable high-quality music education and the role it can play in supporting student learning. By bringing together evidence from research, schools and teachers, the project will clarify the conditions that support high-quality music education and its contribution to student learning.
The music education workforce challenge cannot be solved by schools alone. It needs universities, education departments, the music industry and philanthropy working together to grow teacher expertise and support the teachers already in our classrooms. A stronger Victorian evidence base will help ensure any prospective state response is informed by relevant data and state-specific research. I feel privileged to have been chosen to undertake this work, which will benefit Victorian schools and inform music education nationally.
Dr Anita Collins, Senior Advisor, Alberts Music Education Limited
”For further information about the work of Alberts Music Education Limited please visit musiceducation.com.au