The Queensland Government is injecting more than $44 million into state schools to address behaviour management issues with students.
The Behavioural Boost can be used to hire new support staff, or increase the hours of existing teacher aides, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.
Funding may also be used by teachers for targeted face-to-face mentoring and professional development workshops or to access specialist educational resources.
In the previous decade, violence in Queensland school classrooms has increased, attendance rates have dropped, and education standards are lagging compared to the rest of the country.
More than $80 million was paid to school teachers and staff for physical and psychological injuries across the state in the 2023-24 financial year, with 960 claims lodged with WorkCover Queensland.
The Queensland Government has also introduced three key actions to reduce red tape for teachers by 25 per cent, which will allow them to re-focus on students reaching their full potential.
The $44 million Behavioural Boost funding comes on top of the core funding schools already receive, including the Reasonable Adjustment Resources, teacher and teacher aide allocations, and curriculum grants.
Queensland Premier Mr David Crisafulli said the government was delivering on its commitment to ensure every Queensland kid could thrive.
“Schools are no place for bad behaviour and we’re sending in the back-up teachers need to turn the tables on bullying,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“This will help teachers to help kids and start to stamp out bullying. More support in the classroom means the focus can go back on teaching.
“Every student deserves to feel safe in the classroom – as does every teacher – and this is about giving schools the tools they need to succeed and ensure they deliver world-class education to all students,” he said.
Schools will have the autonomy to spend the Behavioural Boost in the best way they see to fit to tackle the behavioural needs specific to their classrooms.
Teachers and teacher aides will also receive more targeted training and additional resources throughout the year to lift expertise in effective classroom management.
Minister Mr John-Paul Langbroek said this funding would help improve student behaviour and restore faith in the education system.
“The Crisafulli Government is supporting schools right across the state and that’s evident by today’s announcement and by the introduction of our three actions that reduce red tape for teachers.”
The three early action items to cut red tape for teachers includes:
- Introduce a “one-plan-per-student” approach to student needs management assessments, reducing the burden under the current policy which requires numerous duplicative plans per pupil.
- Simplify time-consuming procurement processes by reducing the number of quotes required for low value, routine purchases. This will improve efficiency and reduce paperwork, while ensuring value for money is maintained.
- Launch a single point of contact for teacher recruitment to make the process faster, easier, and more efficient for principals.
