We all know that education matters. In Australia, as elsewhere, an individual’s educational attainment is a significant predictor of success and wellbeing throughout life. At the same time, we know through experience just how hard it is to lift educational outcomes in a sustained way, and for all students. Research tells us the teachers are the most significant in-school influence on student outcomes, but has much less to say about how to improve teaching quality in ways that directly raise student achievement. This lecture will look at the shared role of universities and education systems as we seek to make a critical difference in Australian education – one that will ensure our ongoing prosperity, as individuals and as a society.