Performing arts education in Australia refers to the teaching of different styles of creative activity that are performed publicly. The performing arts in Australia encompasses many disciplines including music, dance, theatre, musical theatre, circus arts and more. Performing arts education in Australia occurs both formally and informally at all levels of education, including in schools, tertiary institutions and other specialist institutions. There is also a growing body of evidence, from the Australian Council for the Arts and the Parliament of Australia, showing that First Nation's participation in the arts and culture has significant economic, social and cultural benefits to Australia and further supports the outcomes of the Australian governments ‘Closing the Gap’ campaign. There has been an increasing number of scholarships opening up in educational institutions for Indigenous Australians aimed at encouraging this participation in the arts. History of performing arts education in Australia The first Australian Educational Curriculum, drawn up in Victoria in 1872, was based on approximately 7 subjects, which were reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, drill, gymnastics as well as sewing and needlework for females. These were all skills or knowledge based subjects lacking creative and visual appeal. Therefore, in the early history of Australia, performing arts education was outsourced from schools and taught privately. On 12 October 1924 Sir Bernard Heinze organised the first concert for children in Melbourne, which has been regarded as the first education project by an Australian performing arts organisation. On 23 March 1974, the National Youth and Children's Performing Arts Association of Australia was created during the Adelaide Festival. The organisation was developed after the Australian Council for the Arts (ACA) formed a Youth Panel focused on improving the quality in performing arts for young individuals in 1972. Acting as a national organisation, the aims and objectives were outlined as follows: 1 To stimulate, promote and develop the performing and community arts by and for young people; 2) To encourage and co-ordinate the exchange of ideas and information between members, producing bodies, funding bodies, schools, colleges, universities and all interested persons through newsletters, journals, workshops and festivals; 3) To encourage and facilitate the exchange of personnel as widely as possible in the field.In the following year, the organisation became a constituted body and rebranded as the Australian Youth Performing Arts Association (AYPAA). The association began to fulfil its role through organising the Children's Programme for the Australia 75 Festival of the