NSW Public Schools Move Toward Full, Fair Funding
The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have reached an Agreement to fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools.
As part of the Heads of Agreements signed today, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to New South Wales.
This will lift the Commonwealth contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034 and follows New South Wales delivering its election commitment to reach 75 per cent of the SRS in 2025, two years ahead of the former Liberal National Government.
This will see an estimated $4.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to New South Wales public schools over the next 10 years.
This represents the biggest ever new investment in New South Wales public schools by the Australian Government.
New South Wales has also committed to removing the 4 per cent provision of indirect school costs such as capital depreciation so that New South Wales schools will be fully funded over the life of the Agreement.
Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools.
This is not a blank cheque. The Agreement will be accompanied by a New South Wales Bilateral Agreement, which ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, such as:
In addition to these reforms, the Agreements have national targets that complement the New South Wales Government’s own public school targets released last week.
National targets include:
This means more help for students and more support for teachers.
Today’s agreement with New South Wales follows agreements with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Victoria.
The Commonwealth is continuing to work with Queensland.
“Building Australia’s Future means investing in the next generation.
“That’s why every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn.
“We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia.
“This is about investing in real reform with real funding – so all Australian children get the best possible education.”
“Public education is the best investment any government can make. Every dollar spent in this space is a dollar spent on the future of our country.
“Every single child in Australia has the right to a quality, free public education and we are proud to work with the Albanese Labor Government to ensure New South Wales schools are fully funded.
“We’ve seen a 40% reduction in teacher vacancies since we came to government, but we know there’s still more to do.
“This investment is vital as we work to lift education standards across the state by ensuring there is a qualified, dedicated teacher at the front of the classroom.”
“This is big. The biggest state in the country has now signed up.
“This will help more than 780,000 kids in more than 2,200 public schools.
“This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.
“It’s not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results.
“That’s why funding will be directly tied to reforms that we know work.
“It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life. What every parent wants. And what every Australian child deserves.”
“This incredible outcome for public schools will allow us to deliver on the ambitious targets we have set for the public education system in New South Wales.
“Our commitment to rebuilding public education will now be underpinned by an agreement that delivers full funding for public schools.
“The Minns Labor Government inherited a teacher shortage crisis and falling outcomes after a decade of under funding by Federal and State Liberal and National Governments that saw 10,000 merged and cancelled classes daily and over 3000 teacher vacancies.
“With teacher vacancies now down 40 per cent and the number of cancelled classes halved, we are delivering tangible results.
“This investment will enable us to restore public education in New South Wales to the world-leading standards that families deserve.”
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/all-new-south-wales-public-schools-path-full-and-fair-funding