News

The extent of inequity in Australia’s school funding has been revealed in new research, showing that almost double the number of private schools in Western Australia now receive more combined government funding (Commonwealth and state) per student than public schools of very similar size, location and with similar student needs.

Contrary to claims by the Cook and Albanese governments, the bilateral agreement signed by the state and Commonwealth governments on Tuesday will still leave public school students in Western Australia underfunded and not fully funded as claimed.

The 2024 NAPLAN results have delivered a damning indictment on the failure of governments to fully fund public schools and show, once again, the urgency of the Albanese Government delivering on their pre-election promise for public schools to be funded at 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard.

The Australian Education Union acknowledges the significant $768 million funding deal struck between the Albanese Government and the Northern Territory.

The SSTUWA has received a second offer from the Department of Training and Workforce Development in regard to the 2023 General Agreement (TAFE Lecturers).

The State School Teachers’ Union (SSTUWA) welcomes Education Minister Tony Buti’s new 10-point plan to tackle school violence. It is especially important that schools experiencing high levels of violent behaviour will be offered targeted assistance.

The Albanese Government must make the investments required in WA public schools to allow principals and teachers to cut class sizes and provide more individual attention and support for every child.

Official figures have revealed Western Australian public schools are being underfunded by $31 million, with the shortfall rising to an incredible $374 million by the end of the decade. State School Teachers’ Union of Western Australia President Matt Jarman said the alarming new figures showed a need for urgent action.

​The Australian Education Union is calling for all public schools to be fully funded by 2028 to lift the one-on-one support children receive in the classroom and give teachers the time and resources to meet the needs of every child.

The full extent of the inequity in Australia’s school funding system has been exposed, with internal Department of Education figures showing a massive overfunding of private schools. The figures are included in a departmental briefing prepared for witnesses appearing before Senate Estimates, publicly released through freedom of information.

New data released today highlights that the Morrison Government’s failure to take responsibility for TAFE has entrenched underfunding, excessive workloads for staff and greater uncertainty for students.

The Australian Education Union is calling on the Morrison Government to deliver urgent funding for public schools in line with the recommendations of the Gonski review delivered a decade ago.

Today the ACTU has released “Morrison Missing – A Record of his Failure for Working Women” – a major report outlining how the Morrison Government has failed to support working women.

An urgent investment in public school funding is required now more than ever to ensure students are not educationally disadvantaged as a result of COVID-19, the Australian Education Union has recommended in their pre-budget submission.

The State School Teachers’ Union of WA is pleased that members will now be able to access COVID leave immediately if needed, with the requirement to first exhaust other forms of leave now being lifted.