Colleen Harkin
National Manager, Class Action Program and Research Fellow
Colleen Harkin joined the Institute of Public Affairs as a Research Fellow and as the National Manager of the Class Action research program. She holds a Master degree of Education, a Bachelor of Education, and has undertaken a post graduate course in High Incidence Difficulties and a Diploma of Teaching.
Colleen has been a classroom teacher in both primary and secondary schools, across government and private schools. She has also worked as an education consultant in Australia and in Japan.
Colleen also has experience in the IT sector, in business development and project management, and owned her own small business in the development of award-winning bespoke databases and widgets for a range of international clients.
Most recently worked with Hon Senator Jane Hume MP and returned to the classroom to occasionally engage in relief teaching.
As a teacher and a mother, Colleen is passionate about lifting standards in the Australian education system. Through her work at the IPA Colleen aims to undertake research and build resources that empower educators, parents and students with the knowledge and capability to become independent and proud citizens.
Colleen has served for many years as an executive committee member on a number of school and community sporting clubs and on the fundraising arm for the Royal Children Hospital She continues to organise an annual fundraising event for RCH. She has been politically active throughout her life in both fund raising and policy input. She enjoys a good steak tartare, time at the beach, building and home renovations.
15 November 2023
Glib Advertising Will Not Enable ‘That’ Teacher
This article was originally published in The Spectator Australia on or about 15 November 2023 and was written by the author in their capacity as a contributor for that publication. It has been republished on the IPA website with permission. The views expressed are those of the author alone. ‘Be that teacher’ is a new $10 million advertising blitz by federal, state,
1 November 2023
Centralisation, The Voice, And Why The National Curriculum Should Be Abandoned
In this article, Colleen Harkin contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into the national curriculum, conducted as part of the IPA’s Class Action Program. The Class Action Program was established in 2022 to analyse Australia’s national curriculum and improve Australia’s educational standards. Centralised control results in a hierarchy of out-of-touch elites, neglects local agency, and creates unnecessary
20 October 2023
Learn From Sad History
Millennials’ support for ‘socialism’ would wane if they were taught more of its true nature and tragic history, report IPA Research Fellows Lana Starkey and Colleen Harkin. Long branded narcissistic, entitled, and politically apathetic, the ‘Me me me’ millennial generation—those born between 1980 and 2000—are now the largest voting group in Australia. If the polls are correct, their attitude towards
29 September 2023
Climate Change Catastrophisation, Curriculum Indoctrination, And The Detrimental Impact On Youth Mental Health
In this article, Colleen Harkin contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into the national curriculum, conducted as part of the IPA’s Class Action Program. The Class Action Program was established in 2022 to analyse Australia’s national curriculum and improve Australia’s educational standards. The deliberate, dishonest catastrophisation of climate change and environmental issues in our school curricula is
29 August 2023
NAPLAN Results Offer Proof: Australia’s Education System Is Failing
In this article, Colleen Harkin contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into the national curriculum, conducted as part of the IPA’s Foundations of Western Civilisation Program. The Foundations of Western Civilisation Program was established in 2011 to defend and extend Australians’ understanding of the influential, historical role of the West in establishing many of the liberties enjoyed
17 August 2023
Canberra Isn’t Listening To Indigenous Voices On Remote Education
Hypocrisy within government undermines the credibility of policymakers, erodes public trust, wastes precious time, and squanders taxpayer funds. An example of this is the federal government’s decision to spend upwards of $380 million to conduct the referendum for the Voice to Parliament proposal, while simultaneously cutting funding to remote schools serving Indigenous communities, and cancelling plans to build two much
30 April 2023
The Achievements Of Captain James Cook Are A Story for The Ages
In this article, Colleen Harkin contextualises and disseminates the findings of the IPA’s research into the national curriculum, conducted as part of the IPA’s Foundations of Western Civilisation Program. The Foundations of Western Civilisation Program was established in 2011 to defend and extend Australians’ understanding of the influential, historical role of the West in establishing many of the liberties enjoyed
31 March 2023
Let Teachers Teach
As recent footage of a teacher losing control of a New South Wales classroom received widespread coverage in the media, it begs the question: just how many teachers across the country are pushed to breaking point every day and what does this say about the state of our education system? The undeniable fact is the Australia’s education system is in
23 March 2023
Right To Faith-Based Education Sacrificed At The Altar Of Progressivism
If, like most of us, you are under the impression that parents have a “right” to see their children educated within their own values system, you are mistaken. In practice today, mainstream religion, and all the values that it connotes, are being erased from our national education system. Every child in Australia has the right to, and is guaranteed, a
21 March 2023
De-educating Australia: How The National Curriculum Is Failing Australian Children
The Australian education system is in crisis, and at the heart of this crisis lies the National Curriculum. The curriculum dictates what every child in Australia should know. Sadly, it is becoming increasingly apparent that it is failing to fulfil its purpose, which is to educate Australian children. Unfortunately, Version 9 of the National Curriculum, which will be implemented in
