Significant changes have occurred in education and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Australian and New Zealand schools in the years since the publication of "Learning in an online world: the school education action plan for the information economy" (2000). These reflect inter-related developments in: (1) school reform, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment; (2) ICT in education policy; (3) teacher confidence and capability to use ICT; (4) student and parent expectations that technologies will extend individual, group and community learning; and (5) technologies, digital content and services, applications and infrastructure. These developments have enabled real progress towards the achievement of the "National Goals of Schooling in the 21st Century" and have increased the capacity of educators specifically to address student outcomes in the use of ICT. However, major challenges still exist. Continued collaboration is crucial to achieving the national vision of all schools confidently using ICT in their everyday practices to improve learning, teaching and administration. "Learning in an online world" is a series of policy, strategy, frameworks and action plan documents to support jurisdictions and schools in meeting the challenge. This paper is the overarching statement. It describes the environment, articulates the national policy framework and identifies significant actions required.