{"id":100656,"date":"2025-01-26T07:10:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T20:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/?p=100656"},"modified":"2025-01-25T20:29:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T09:29:42","slug":"federal-government-boosts-education-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/federal-government-boosts-education-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Government Boosts Education Funding for Victoria and South Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Victoria and <strong>South Australia<\/strong> have achieved a significant milestone in <strong>education funding<\/strong>, securing a landmark <strong>5% increase<\/strong> in <strong>federal funding<\/strong> for <strong>public schools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The move brings both states closer to fully funding public schools by <strong>2034<\/strong>, setting a new benchmark in <strong>education reform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong>Queensland<\/strong> and <strong>New South Wales<\/strong> remain in negotiations, with both states yet to commit to the historic <strong>federal education agreement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Funding Gap : Addressing Longstanding Disparities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly secured agreement highlights a critical challenge in <strong>Australia\u2019s public education system<\/strong>: the persistent <strong>underfunding<\/strong> of public schools compared to their <strong>private counterparts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While private schools often receive more than their required funding, nearly <strong>98% of public schools<\/strong> remain underfunded, according to the <strong>Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This disparity has left public school students at a disadvantage, particularly those in underserved communities or with additional <strong>learning needs<\/strong>. Addressing this inequity has been a longstanding goal of <strong>education reform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current Funding Structure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the previous arrangement established by the Coalition, states and territories provided <strong>75% of public school funding<\/strong>, with the commonwealth contributing <strong>20%<\/strong>, leaving a <strong>5% shortfall<\/strong> in meeting the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SRS, introduced during the Gonski reforms, represents the baseline funding required to deliver a quality education to all students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key highlights of the existing funding model :<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Coalition\u2019s contribution<\/strong>: 20% of the SRS.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>State responsibility<\/strong>: 75% of funding requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shortfall<\/strong>: 5%, leaving most public schools underfunded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This <strong>education funding<\/strong> shortfall has long hindered the ability of public schools to meet the needs of all students, underscoring the critical importance of reforms to ensure equitable access to quality education nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Victoria and South Australia\u2019s New Agreement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The new deal lifts the federal government\u2019s contribution to <strong>25% of the SRS<\/strong> for Victoria and South Australia. Over the next decade, this commitment will close the gap, ensuring public schools in both states receive <strong>100% of their required funding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, the agreement eliminates accounting practices introduced under the previous government, which allowed states to count <strong>4% of their contribution<\/strong> toward non-educational expenses, such as capital depreciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Progress and Resistance Among States<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>education funding<\/strong> landscape in <strong>Australia<\/strong> highlights significant <strong>disparities<\/strong> in <strong>resource allocation<\/strong>, with some states progressing toward <strong>full funding<\/strong> while others remain hesitant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This divide reflects varying <strong>regional priorities<\/strong> and <strong>fiscal strategies<\/strong>, as well as differences in negotiating positions with the <strong>federal government<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The agreements reached with <strong>Victoria<\/strong> and <strong>South Australia<\/strong> mark a pivotal step, but they also underscore the complexity of achieving nationwide consensus on <strong>education reform<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ongoing negotiations with <strong>Queensland<\/strong> and <strong>New South Wales<\/strong> demonstrate the challenges in balancing <strong>equity<\/strong> with individual state interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">States Joining the Agreement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Victoria and South Australia now join Western Australia, the Northern Territory, the ACT, and Tasmania in signing the federal government\u2019s <strong>Better and Fairer Schools agreement<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The program, launched by Education Minister <strong>Jason Clare<\/strong>, increases the commonwealth\u2019s funding share by <strong>2.5%<\/strong> for participating states, with an additional <strong>40% allocation<\/strong> for the Northern Territory due to specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key outcomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Victoria and South Australia receive <strong>5% more funding<\/strong>, doubling the federal contribution compared to the original agreement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other participating states benefit from a <strong>\u201cno disadvantage\u201d clause<\/strong>, ensuring they can receive the increased 2.5% funding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unresolved Negotiations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/queensland-weighs-tourism-tax-raising-concerns-about-its-effect-on-visitor-numbers\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"100561\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Queensland<\/a> and New South Wales continue to hold out on the agreement. Both states remain engaged in discussions, seeking favorable terms that align with their education priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leaders from these states have emphasised the need to secure long-term funding arrangements that will benefit their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Impacts of the Agreement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly secured <strong>education funding<\/strong> agreement represents a pivotal moment for public education in Australia. By addressing the chronic underfunding of public schools, the deal aims to reduce disparities in education quality across states and territories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Experts suggest that fully funding the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) will not only improve outcomes for disadvantaged students but also help standardize education resources nationwide, fostering greater equity within the system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, challenges remain in ensuring all states commit to similar reforms, particularly Queensland and New South Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Funding for Key Education Reforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Education Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/jasonclare.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/jasonclare.com.au\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jason Clare<\/a> emphasized that the additional funding will be tied to <strong>reforms designed to enhance educational outcomes<\/strong>. Initiatives will focus on supporting students in critical areas, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mental health services for students.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Targeted assistance for students with disabilities and learning difficulties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved attendance and engagement strategies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not a blank cheque,\u201d Clare noted, underscoring the need for accountability in delivering results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Funding Breakdown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Victoria\u2019s public schools are set to receive an additional <strong>$2.5 billion over ten years<\/strong>, addressing underfunding for nearly <strong>98% of schools<\/strong> in the state.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>South Australia\u2019s education minister, Blair Boyer, estimated the deal will secure <strong>$248 million annually<\/strong> for the state, directly benefiting students with special needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calls for Nationwide Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Education advocates, including Australian Education Union (AEU) President <strong>Correna Haythorpe<\/strong>, have hailed the agreement as a major breakthrough. Haythorpe urged the Coalition and remaining states to back the funding reforms to prevent further delays in meeting the SRS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prime Minister <strong>Anthony Albanese<\/strong> also lauded the agreement, describing it as a \u201cstep forward\u201d toward achieving equitable education standards for all Australian students. He expressed optimism that ongoing discussions with Queensland and New South Wales would yield positive outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two Australian states have secured a groundbreaking education funding deal, setting a new benchmark for public school reforms, while others remain in talks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":100680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100656"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100684,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100656\/revisions\/100684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}