Global Access Partners

25/08/2026

We are excited to see Mittagong Community Playgroup featured in Domain’s recent article about Mittagong!

Playgroup facilitator and proud Mittagong local Michelle Hinton shares the story of the Playgroup and its role in the community as a space to connect, build friendships and create a strong sense of belonging.

You can read the full article here:
https://www.domain.com.au/news/mittagong-the-southern-highlands-town-where-country-charm-meets-everyday-convenience-1544432/

The Mittagong Community Playgroup is funded by the Fritz Family Foundation, a future-focused foundation established in 2019 following GAP’s years of research into integrated models of early childhood education. Learn more about GAP’s work in ECEC here:https://globalaccesspartners.org/education/

You can support the Playgroup through a donation to FFF via https://www.givenow.com.au/fritzfamilyfoundation

20/08/2026

This National Science Week, we’re celebrating a simple idea at GAP: everyone’s a scientist.

Scientific thinking isn’t just for the laboratory. It means asking questions, testing assumptions, weighing evidence and being willing to change our minds when the evidence changes. These are skills every young Australian can benefit from.

Through GAP’s Critical Thinking Education Initiative, we’re working to strengthen scientific ways of thinking across Australian universities and schools. Our initiative has already brought together UC Berkeley and Science Teachers Association of New South Wales to develop a scientific critical thinking program for science teachers.

Following the success of the pilot, now in its second year, we’re looking to expand the program across other states and, importantly, into other subject areas.

Learn more about GAP’s Critical Thinking Education Initiative: globalaccesspartners.org/education

13/08/2026

Global Access Partners is delighted the Fritz Family Foundation (FFF) has launched its new donation page on GiveNow.

FFF supports projects that foster opportunities for lifelong learning across generations. Its focus spans three key areas - early childhood, including initiatives such as the Mittagong Community Playgroup, promoting critical thinking skills in secondary education, and adult learning.

Donations to support FFF’s projects can be made at the following link: www.givenow.com.au/fritzfamilyfoundation

03/08/2026

We are delighted to see the Mittagong Community Playgroup start a new semester of learning and play this week.

Today also marks the start of Early Learning Matters Week, a celebration of the wonderful impact early childhood education has on young children, their families and the wider community.

The Playgroup’s continued growth is a reflection of GAP’s research into the benefits of integrated models of early childhood education.

Mittagong Community Playgroup
Early Childhood Australia

27/07/2026

Global Access Partners is delighted Prof Murray Print, member of the GAP Working Group on Civics Education (https://globalaccesspartners.org/), contributed to the discussion at the recent National Civics Education Roundtable, convened by the Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) and hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC.

The roundtable brought together educators and community leaders to consider the future of civics education and democratic participation in Australia.

22/07/2026

The next Scientific Critical Thinking teacher training session on Scientific Modelling will be held next Tuesday, delivered by the Science Teachers Association of New South Wales, in partnership with UC Berkeley and Global Access Partners.

This session draws on the resources available in Unit 2 of the Scientific Thinking for All: A Toolkit, now available on the Lawrence Hall of Science website: https://scientificthinking.lawrencehallofscience.org/unit-2-scientific-modeling/

Our term 3 Critical Thinking Network session is open to all teachers next Tuesday 28 July at 7.30am - 1 hour of free PL on scientific modelling, encouraging critical scientific thinking amongst students.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/87WgrUI_TSasbiC_9dfziQ

Held in collaboration with UC Berkeley , Nobel Prize Outreach and Global Access Partners , this session covers scientific modelling to investigate scientific questions, such as where a species is likely to be found in the future. We’ll explore how data on ecological change is gathered and how scientists use different methods of population estimation, such as Fermi estimates, to simplify complex problems and guide research.

More details on the session here: https://stansw.asn.au/event/scientific-critical-thinking-network-scientific-modelling/

13/07/2026

A fantastic three days in Canberra at the Australian Conference of Economists, in the company of esteemed colleagues from academia, government and industry. On 8 July, GAP Chairman Peter Fritz AO presented and — a new theory of how institutions translate decisions into outcomes, and its implications for productivity, public policy and institutional performance in the age of artificial intelligence.

https://executioneconomics.au/

30/06/2026

We are pleased to continue our partnership with Science Teachers Association of New South Wales and UC Berkeley on the Scientific Critical Thinking teacher training programme, as part of GAP’s broader Critical Thinking Education initiative.

The next session, Scientific Modelling, will take place on Tuesday, 28 July via Zoom. It will demonstrate how students can use, compare and develop scientific models to investigate a range of scientific questions.

The programme was launched in 2025 to train NSW science teachers on practical activities that encourage critical scientific thinking amongst students.

https://stansw.asn.au/event/scientific-critical-thinking-network-scientific-modelling/

23/06/2026

Congratulations to International Centre for Democratic Partnerships - ICDP on the release of the report from the Financial Literacy Dialogue held in May. Another great initiative supporting the growth and engagement of the Pacific community.

We are delighted to share the report from the ICDP Financial Literacy Dialogue, “Building Financial Confidence for a Stronger Tomorrow”, held on 7 May.

Supported by our wonderful Pacific Hub Coordinators, and co-facilitators Torika Kalman and Catherine Fritz-Kalish AM, participants joined the discussion from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Our sincere thanks goes to Shani Jayamanne, who shared very practical insight on personal financial management and the importance of financial independence, particularly for women.

Stay tuned for more information on our next Dialogue, planned for the second half of 2026.



https://lnkd.in/gBJSGuHi

18/06/2026

Over a plate of pickles and homemade lemonade, Catherine Fritz-Kalish caught up with Prof Saul Perlmutter and A/Prof Laura Nelson in Berkeley, San Francisco to talk about the future of critical thinking and decision implementation.

University Of Berkeley, California
Global Access Partners