Dare to Lead is a commonwealth funded national project with a focus on improving educational outcomes for Indigenous students.

Dare to Lead began in 2000 when representatives of the four peak principals associations met at a national forum and agreed that Indigenous education would be their highest priority.

It is an initiative of the profession and specifically of Principals Australia acting on behalf of its members and their associations. The Project is funded by the Australian Government with the support of the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Dare to Lead is now in its fourth phase, with currently over 50% of all Australian schools (more than 5000) signed on as coalition members.

The current phase is tagged, "Partnership Builds Success". In its earlier phases Dare to Lead challenged the profession to take action to improve the outcomes of Indigenous students, and to build Reconciliation. It is undeniable that these changes will be achieved and even more strongly when the profession works with partners to build this success. It is partnership which has seen school leaders learning together, school leaders working with community and school leaders working with organisations to create many of the successes to date. In this new phase of Dare to Lead, the project will draw further on the cooperative effort of education sectors, professional associations, organisations and the corporate and philanthropic sectors to create sustained, systemic change and improved outcomes, fostered through partnership.

Dare to Lead through the years

Phase Two Dare to Lead: Taking it on 2003 to 2005

Phase Three Dare to Lead: Making the difference 2005 to 2008

Phase Four Dare to Lead: Partnership Builds Success 2009 - 2012

Project Governance