IT'S TIME TO FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROPERLY AND FAIRLY

Last week the Federal Labor Government announced their budget for 2023-24, including some small but significant commitments for public schools and teachers.

$40 million for Central Australian schools

36 public schools in Central Australia will be fully funding to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). This funding will help deliver more teachers, more education support staff, and more one on one individual attention for students.

Importantly, for public schools across the country it is the first step towards the delivery of Federal Labor’s 2022 election commitment - to get every public school on the pathway to 100% of the SRS.

$25 million Teacher Workload Reduction Fund

To help resolve the staffing shortage crisis, $25 million will go towards piloting new ways to reduce teacher workloads. Plus another $10 million will be spent on a public campaign to raise the status of the teaching profession and draw new workers to the sector.

National Student Wellbeing Program

Previously the Chaplaincy program, the National Student Wellbeing Program will now now be open to non-religiously affiliated pastoral care workers, and continue to be funded at $61.4 million per year.

What's missing?

While we welcome targeted funding in the Northern Territory - where students have the highest level of need - we know that outside of the NT, 1 in 10 public school students across the country is effectively underfunded. 

For Federal Labor to truly deliver Prime Minister Albanese’s vision for Australia, where no one is held back and no one is left behind, this Government must deliver 100% of the SRS funding needed for every Australian public school. That is the minimum benchmark agreed to by all governments.

Next Thursday 25th May is Public Education Day - an opportunity for us to celebrate the impact of public education, and call on the Federal Government to deliver full and fair funding for public schools.

Keep an eye on out for ways you can get involved next week!

In the meantime, we need more to ensure every child in every public school gets the support they need. Send this link to your family, friends, colleagues or anyone else you think should get involved: www.everyschooleverychild.org.au/join  

The Every School Every Child team