The Australian Government is delivering record funding to schools – from $17.5 billion in 2017 to $32.5 billion in 2029.
Every child deserves a quality education and we want teachers to have the support they need to lift outcomes for our students and help them feel ready for whatever the future holds.
Use the school funding estimator to find out what this means for your government school.
Information on what this means for non-government schools is in the Quality Schools package fact sheet.
To achieve this goal, the Government is delivering new funding arrangements to ensure that every student gets the resources they need, regardless of their background or where they live.
The Commonwealth continues to grow its investment in Australian schools. In 2013, we invested nearly $13.0 billion in government and non-government schools. By 2029, that investment will have grown to over $32 billion each year.
Over 2018 to 2029, total Commonwealth investment in schools will increase by 85.3 per cent from a 2017 base. On average, funding for each student will grow by 4.2 per cent each year over this period.
Schools and students that need the most additional resources will get the biggest funding increases in the fastest time period. By 2029, all schools in each sector – Catholic, Independent and Government – will be funded on a consistent basis by the Commonwealth.
This funding means schools can continue to deliver – and expand – programs that are helping them support the children in their school who need it most. And the Australian Government will continue to work with states and territories on national reforms that improve the quality of schools.
The Australian Government remains committed to providing Australian families with choice and equity in education. Policies such as capacity to contribute ensure funding flows to the schools that need it the most.
The Government has established an independent National School Resourcing Board to review elements of the funding model in the Australian Education Act 2013, including assessing the compliance of states, territories and other approved authorities with their requirements under the Act.
The Government also established the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools, led by Mr David Gonski AC, to ensure the national reform agenda continues to be strongly linked to the best evidence available of what works. On 28 March 2018, the Review panel delivered the final report to the Government, Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools.
The report's recommendations and findings along with the Independent Review of Regional Rural and Remote Education and the Optimising STEM Industry-School Partnerships report of the STEM Partnerships Forum, have informed the development of the National Schools Reform Agreement between the Commonwealth and states and territories.
The National School Reform Agreement sets out eight national policy initiatives in areas where national collaboration will have the greatest impact.
For more information
The Quality Schools frequently asked questions provide information about the changes.
The Quality Schools fact sheets explain the schools reform package in more detail.
There is also a glossary for key terms used on this website.