Speaking on Al Jazeera program "The Stream," Ms Gillard said she had been head-hunted for her role as the Global Partnership for Education chair, which she described as a "tremendous opportunity."
"What took me into politics was a focus on education and making sure every child in my own country got a quality education," she said.
"We had work to do and still [have] work to do, because there are big disparities between richer and poorer communities and particularly for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander Australians."
When asked if she missed politics she said she had mixed feelings.
"It’s the best thing you’ll ever do, but there’s some relief there too because it’s the end of the hardest thing you’ll ever do"
"I do miss it in part,” she said.
"It’s the kind of a curious thing when, in many ways, the best thing you’ll ever do and the hardest thing you’ll ever do has come to an end."
"And so you miss it, because it’s the best thing you’ll ever do, but there’s some relief there too because it’s the end of the hardest thing you’ll ever do.”
Ms Gillard said the Global Partnership was working to encourage donor governments to invest in education.
When asked how she would go about encouraging countries to spend millions of dollars on education she quipped: "we're looking for money in the billions."
She went on to say her passion for education had come from her father, who didn't get to finish school and had always regretted it.
"I’ve always thought what different a life my dad could have had, if he had access to education as a young man," she said.
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