The public education sector is united in urging the Federal Government to fairly fund public schools in next week’s Federal Budget.

Education Ministers, the Australian Education Union, and principals’ associations are standing shoulder to shoulder and urging the Federal Government to bring the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) up to the full 100 per cent.

A fair funding agreement would result in billions of dollars flowing to schools that desperately need it.

Public schools are currently funded below the SRS, which is the minimum level governments agreed to more than ten years ago following a Commonwealth-initiated review by David Gonski that identified 100 per cent was the minimum amount required to meet the needs of students. 

This contrasts with non-government schools, which currently receive above 100 per cent of the SRS.

The needs of our students have become more complex during that time, and coupled with a national teacher shortage crisis, outcomes for students depend upon receiving the funding they deserve.

State and Territory Education Ministers have been urging the Federal Government to lift its public school funding by five per cent, which would close the gap to 100 per cent of the SRS. This will go towards ensuring every child gets the support they need to succeed, including recruiting additional teachers, allied health professionals and support staff in schools. 

Next Tuesday’s budget is the opportunity for the Federal Government to deliver its election commitment to get every school to 100 per cent of its fair funding level. Anything less than full funding would be unacceptable to the millions of families who attend public schools.

The Commonwealth only provides 20 per cent of funding for public schools, with states and territories responsible for 75 per cent. This funding inequity is despite public schools educating twice the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and more than three times the proportion of First Nations students.

It comes as the Federal Government’s review in December 2023 warned that the underfunding of public schools is ‘undermining other reform efforts with real implications for student educational and wellbeing outcomes, teacher attraction and retention’ and the need for full funding was ‘urgent and critical’ as a prerequisite for student learning and wellbeing improvement.

State and territory ministers stand ready to promptly sign a new National School Reform Agreement once fully funding is committed.

New South Wales Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “State governments are facing unprecedented pressure as our public schools do the heavy lifting when it comes to educating growing populations, and supporting students with increasingly complex needs. As the largest state in the Commonwealth, NSW is no different. 

“We are doing this while tackling a teacher shortage and an infrastructure backlog in high-growth areas – and we cannot continue to go it alone.

“We cannot look parents, teachers and students in the eye any longer and tell them it is OK that the government funds them below what they need.