All Tasmanian public schools will be fully and fairly funded by the Albanese and Rockliff Governments following a historic agreement signed on Wednesday 25 September.
Both governments signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and agreed to increase funding for all public schools in Tasmania to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). Currently, the Commonwealth provides 20 per cent of the SRS for Tasmanian public schools.
The deal sees Tasmania become the nation’s third state or territory (following Western Australia and the Northern Territory) to sign on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, which means its public school funding will increase to 22.5 per cent by no later than 2029.
Currently, only ACT public schools are at the full and fair funding level.
To play its part in the new agreement, the Tasmanian Government – the primary funders of Tasmanian public schools – will increase its contribution to 77.5 per cent of the SRS by no later than 2029.
The Agreement signed last week will be followed by a Tasmanian Bilateral Agreement that will tie funding to reforms designed to help students catch up, keep up and finish school. These reforms include:
- year one phonics and early years numeracy checks to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help
- initiatives that support well-being for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals
- access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning
- initiatives that strengthen teacher and school-leader well-being.
The Bilateral Agreement will also outline the specific timing of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ increases in SRS funding shares to get to full and fair 100 per cent funding level as soon as possible by no later than 2029.
The power of quality education
The Albanese Government welcomes Tasmania’s decision to work together to fully fund public schools and says it is committed to working with all states and territories to get all public schools on a path to 100 per cent of the SRS.
“I know firsthand the power of a good quality education,” says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I want to make sure that every student in Australia, no matter where they live and learn, receives every opportunity. This is a national priority that can only delivered when the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments work in partnership.”
Premier of Tasmania Jeremy Rockliff: says the arrangements means “additional funding will now flow to Tasmanian schools from 2025, with up to an additional $300 million invested into our public schools over the next five years”.
“We have been transforming Tasmania’s education system over the past decade, and this funding partnership is the next step in delivering for young Tasmanians.”
