The central purpose of this research is to examine one policy initiative - Ministerial Paper No.6 - in the context of the way teachers at a suburban Melbourne high school have understood it. A case study approach was utilised to understand how a particular school deals with change based on the experiences of teachers and administrators within the school and in relation to external expectations. The case study used questionnaires, interviews and participant observation over a three year time frame to depict the knowledge and attitudes of teachers to the policy in question. Attention was given to the differing perspectives and knowledge held by representatives of the government at regional level, by school administrators and by teachers. The study found that there was universal awareness of Ministerial Paper No.6 during the period 1985- 1986 and that this was the result of initiatives taken at the school level. Generally, there was consensus on the need for change and agreement in principle with the major thrusts of the policy. However, practical issues concerning implementation, internal factors militating against change and the flood of documents and discussion papers during the period of the study precluded fundamental changes from occurring.