Constitution Education Fund Australia
Australian Constitution Centre
CEFA's permanent exhibition and learning program at the High Court of Australia in Canberra, exploring the history of our Constitution and its six foundation principles.
Civics Australia
Governor-General's Prize
Educating for Democracy
Helping young Australians understand their Constitution and take part in their democracy.
Initiatives and resources
CEFA's school initiatives are helping to improve knowledge, engagement and interest in most areas of democracy for young Australians.
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Australian Constitution Centre
The exhibition and learning program CEFA developed with the High Court of Australia, with resources for schools and visitors.
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Civics Australia
Animated episodes, fact sheets, quizzes and a glossary explaining the Constitution, referendums, the separation of powers and voting. Funded by the Australian Government.
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Governor-General's Prize
Australia's most prestigious essay competition, open to undergraduate students, with a judging panel chaired by a Justice of the High Court.
The Australian Constitution Centre
CEFA conceived the Centre and worked with the High Court of Australia to build its first exhibition, which explores the history of the Constitution through its six foundation principles.
The Centre opened at the High Court in Canberra on Monday 9 April 2018.
The six foundation principles
- Democracy
- The rule of law
- Separation of powers
- Federalism
- Nationhood
- Rights
Australian Council for Civics and Citizenship Education
A new national body of non-government organisations and leaders in civics and citizenship education, established following a National Roundtable hosted by the Governor-General in July 2026.
About CEFA
Engaging all Australians with the history and operation of the Australian Constitution, and its relevance today.
Constitution Education Fund Australia is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase public understanding, awareness and appreciation of Australia's constitutional framework. Since 1995, our focus has been civics and citizenship teaching and learning resources, and their development and use in schools and other education providers. We give Australians factual knowledge about how our system of government works, the Constitution's history and why it still matters.
Civics for a cohesive Australia
Trust in Australia's institutions of government, and in the people in them, is declining. At the same time, polarisation between different groups across our society is rising. That trend is corrosive of our democracy.
CEFA warned of this in its 2019 report, Why national constitutional, civics, citizenship education must be a priority for Australian school students, which found that trust in our system of government, its institutions and democracy was declining rapidly. Australians who understand how their democracy works, and their rights and responsibilities as citizens, are better placed to take part in it constructively, to see through misinformation and disinformation, and to engage respectfully with people from different backgrounds.
Civics and citizenship education is delivered by many organisations across Australia, but the landscape is fragmented. To bring that work together, CEFA convened a National Roundtable on Civics and Citizenship Education, hosted by our Patron-in-Chief, Her Excellency the Governor-General, on 10 July 2026. Participants resolved to establish the Australian Council for Civics and Citizenship Education, a body of non-government organisations and leaders in the field, which CEFA is now helping to set up. The Council will work alongside governments, including on their social cohesion education initiatives.
Our programs
- The Australian Constitution Centre at the High Court of Australia, and its teaching and learning resources
- The Governor-General's Prize, a national essay competition for undergraduate students, judged by a panel chaired by a Justice of the High Court
- Civics Australia, digital learning resources on the Constitution, referendums and voting
- The Australian Council for Civics and Citizenship Education, bringing together the organisations that deliver civics and citizenship education across Australia
Past programs include Parliaments in Schools, undergraduate research scholarships, the Yaba teaching and learning resources and online forum, and CEFA's Constitutional Forum.
Our work is funded through private philanthropy and government grants.
CEFA is overseen by a board chaired by the Honourable Robert French AC, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.