In an open letter sent on Friday, November 28 to the acting minister and NESA chief executive Paul Martin, representatives from Drama NSW, Drama Australia, the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) NSW and National, and the National Advocates for Arts Education demanded the consultation take place before the syllabuses are finalised.
The intervention comes 12 months after widespread backlash from teachers and professional associations following NESA’s release of draft syllabuses that introduced significant changes to long-established HSC Drama and Music courses.
The representatives said serious concerns raised by the profession have still not been addressed.
President of ASME NSW, Dr Thomas Fienberg, said music teachers have been raising clear, consistent concerns for more than a year.
“… and it is our responsibility to ensure their concerns are heard,” he said.
“Rushing these syllabuses through without a second consultation will damage trust and student engagement with music education in NSW.”
The groups warn that moving to finalise and release deeply flawed syllabuses without further consultation will undermine teacher confidence in NESA and intensify workload pressures on an already overstretched workforce.
Dr Rachael Dwyer, national president of ASME said NESA has shown that it is not willing to listen to music teachers, who are expressing valid concerns.
“Genuine consultation and transparency are not optional when you are rewriting senior curriculum. A substandard curriculum will impact NSW music students.”
Teachers across NSW have consistently reported that major problems remain in the draft documents, despite detailed submissions provided to both NESA and the NSW Government throughout 2024 and 2025, including formal evidence presented to the 2024 NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Music and Arts Education and Training.
The organisations also raised serious concerns about the transparency of the syllabus development process, arguing that a lack of open communication has damaged trust between teachers, professional associations and the curriculum authority.
They are particularly alarmed by the proposed timing of the final syllabus release. A late Term 4 release would force teachers to redesign programs and assessments over the summer holidays, adding significant stress and risk to school implementation.
Kelly Young, president of Drama NSW said drama teachers are exhausted and frustrated.
“They have been asking for meaningful engagement with NESA,” she said.
“Their voices and professional expertise have continued to be ignored by NESA.”
Dr John Nicholas Saunders, chair of National Advocates for Arts Education said many NSW teachers have lost confidence in the way the process has been handled by NESA.
“A second, transparent consultation process is the only credible way to restore trust and confidence in NESA, and ensure these syllabuses are fit for purpose,” he said.
Associate Professor Jo Raphael, president of Drama Australia said professional associations exist to bring the profession’s expertise into curriculum development.
“When that expertise is sidelined, the quality of the syllabus suffers and teachers lose confidence in the system.”
The groups are calling for:
- an immediate second round of public consultation in early Term 1, 2026;
- genuine, structured opportunities for teachers and professional associations to provide feedback without confidentiality restrictions; and
- full transparency around the evidence base informing syllabus changes.
The organisations say the request is made in a spirit of professional partnership and with a shared commitment to high-quality outcomes for NSW students.
They have offered to meet urgently with the Acting Minister and NESA to discuss next steps.
