This document outlines work by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to identify essential skills for learning. It argues that the growing emphasis on skills indicates a refocus for education systems, which should focus on essential skills with a high impact on learning. The report identifies five such skills: critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and self-regulation.

It presents these skills as not only supporting learning in every area, but also as having a high impact on other skills, knowledge and dispositions. It also describes the need to understand skill development, monitor growth, and ensure alignment between curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy.

The report defines each skill and describes observable behaviours and qualities associated with each. It then describes the building of evidence-based skill frameworks that include levels of skill development.