Christian schools are embracing the commitment from Australia’s Education Ministers to work together to get every school to a minimum of 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
The Australian Education Act 2013 (Cth) establishes a funding framework where all students receive a base level of funding, means tested for non-government school students, and additional loadings for identified educational needs.
Under the Act, the Commonwealth will fund 80% of the needs of non-government schools and 20% of the needs of government schools. The States and Territories would be responsible for contributing 75–80% of the needs of government schools and 15–20% of the needs of non-government schools unless otherwise specified in agreements with the Commonwealth.
Recent Commonwealth Education Department calculations have highlighted the shortfall in the funding by some States and Territories of their government schools. The data indicated that:
– only ACT, SA and WA will be funding their government schools at or above 75% of the SRS by 2023
– NSW and Tasmania have committed to reach 75% by 2027
– Victoria has committed to reach 75% by 2028
– Queensland is projected to reach 75% by 2032
– Northern Territory has no commitment to reach 75% and is currently estimated to fund their schools at just 59% of the SRS.
Mrs Vanessa Cheng, Executive Officer of Australian Association of Christian Schools, said it is in the national interest for all students to be properly funded.
“Real school choice requires all schools to be fully funded,” she said.
“It is well overdue for all States and Territories to work with the Commonwealth to appropriately fund government schools, and we fully support the commitment from the Education Ministers.”
Mr Mark Spencer, Director of Public Policy for Christian Schools Australia, said Christian schools have long advocated for well-funded government schools.
“We don’t need another divisive ideological debate about funding. Students in all schools deserve better, they deserve to be fully funded,” he said.
Australian Association of Christian Schools and Christian Schools Australia represent Christian schools operating in more than 320 locations around Australia and educating more than 140,000 students.
