Panel: A Policy Approach to Shifting Mindsets About High Potential and Talent Development

The New South Wales Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy is informed by contemporary Australian and international research, including a comprehensive review of the literature and discussion papers. The policy has successfully shifted mindsets about gifted education due to a clear focus on equity and introduction of four domains of potential: creative, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional. This has resulted in a move from a singular focus on performance and achievement to an emphasis on identifying high potential to develop talent. Developing school leadership capability through evidence-informed professional learning has been key to the success of policy implementation.