Public education has been the launch pad for many brilliant careers.

Just ask Justice Michael Kirby, celebrity chef Kylie Kwong and bestselling author and educator Kylie Captain, all distinguished NSW public school alumni.

All three were joined by Deputy Premier and Education Minister, Prue Car, and NSW Department of Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar, at Alexandria Park Community School to launch the 2024 Public Education Week alumni project on Monday.

Justice Kirby, who is leading the project, said the aim was to “make sure everybody in Australia knows the great debt we owe to public education”.

“It began in the 19th Century - education that is free, secular and compulsory. Those three wonderful words, and those of us who’ve had the blessing of public education must stand up and speak up for public schools, for public education,” he said.

“To my fellow graduates in public schools, I send a message that we have an alumni association. We are here to stir up our country to realise the debt it owes to public education and no more underfunding of public schools and public school teachers.

“We dedicate ourselves here to making a fuss. Making people realise that underfunding public schools is a breach of the debt of equity that is owed to every Australian citizen.”

Mr Dizdar is a public school alumni who went on to become a teacher and a principal in the NSW public education system he now leads.

“We have a remarkable track record in public education of producing leaders across all walks of life,” he said.

“[Through the alumni project], we want to make sure that we promote all those fantastic people who have walked through and been the beneficiaries of the public education system.

“I know as a teacher that our students look to our role models. They want to see what they can become. When they’re in their lessons, they’re not only concentrating on the lesson, they’re dreaming. I want them to dream big around the pathways they can create through their teachers and principals.”

Mr Dizdar said he was excited to launch Public Education Week and the 2024 theme of Proud to Belong.

“I know as a former student, teacher and principal in this system and as a father in the public education system, I’ve always felt like I belong. I’m enormously proud of public education in NSW,” he said.

Ms Car said the 2024 Public Education Week theme was important.

“We know that students who have a strong sense of belonging, at school and in the classroom, actually achieve better outcomes,” she said.

“We are totally committed to the life changing, transformative work that occurs in our public schools each and every day and this week is a chance to celebrate that.

“With the alumni project that we’re launching today, what we’re saying to students and particularly to parents in NSW, is that your child in a public school can aim so high. The world is your oyster if you receive the transformative gift of public education.”