By 2029, the same student with the same need in the same sector will attract the same amount of Australian Government recurrent funding
Under its Quality Schools arrangements, the Australian Government is moving to a consistent, needs-based school funding model for all Australian students. To meet this commitment, the Australian Government is increasing its record level of funding for schools from $18.7 billion in 2018 to an estimated $33.0 billion in 2029, bringing total funding to an estimated $318.9 billion over 2018 to 2029.
Schools receive funding from the Australian Government, their state or territory government and from private sources. The Australian Government is the majority public funder of non-government schools (Catholic and independent schools). State and territory governments are the majority funders of government schools.
In line with these arrangements, by 2029, the Australian Government will provide 80% of a non‑government school’s Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) and 20% of a government school’s SRS. State and territory governments are also required to deliver their share of total public funding as a percentage of the SRS. Each state and territory has a bilateral arrangement with the Commonwealth under the National School Reform Agreement which sets out these shares.
Further information about state and territory funding contribution requirements is available at: How are schools funded in Australia?
Australian Government recurrent funding is growing on average for students in all states and sectors
The tables below show average Australian Government funding to schools (noting all schools also receive funding from their state or territory governments) and average Commonwealth share in 2018 as a percentage of the SRS.
National Average
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$2,914 |
$4,752 |
$2,028 |
4.7% |
19.5% |
Catholic |
$9,274 |
$13,962 |
$5,107 |
3.9% |
81.8% |
Independent |
$7,743 |
$11,527 |
$4,197 |
3.8% |
82.8% |
New South Wales
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$2,968 |
$4,744 |
$1,961 |
4.5% |
19.6% |
Catholic |
$9,188 |
$13,943 |
$5,163 |
3.9% |
82.1% |
Independent |
$7,368 |
$10,761 |
$3,737 |
3.6% |
83.7% |
Victoria
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$2,758 |
$4,580 |
$2,016 |
5.0% |
19.5% |
Catholic |
$9,228 |
$14,052 |
$5,215 |
3.9% |
80.4% |
Independent |
$7,435 |
$10,933 |
$3,843 |
3.7% |
82.9% |
Queensland
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$3,044 |
$4,804 |
$1,934 |
4.4% |
19.6% |
Catholic |
$9,337 |
$13,692 |
$4,838 |
3.7% |
83.1% |
Independent |
$8,315 |
$12,619 |
$4,771 |
4.0% |
82.3% |
South Australia
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$2,859 |
$5,004 |
$2,400 |
5.6% |
19.3% |
Catholic |
$9,224 |
$14,382 |
$5,550 |
4.1% |
80.9% |
Independent |
$8,253 |
$12,678 |
$5,105 |
4.4% |
81.3% |
Western Australia
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$2,495 |
$4,647 |
$2,396 |
6.2% |
19.1% |
Catholic |
$8,963 |
$13,166 |
$4,477 |
3.5% |
82.8% |
Independent |
$7,848 |
$12,231 |
$4,927 |
4.4% |
82.4% |
Tasmania
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$3,405 |
$5,118 |
$1,871 |
3.9% |
19.9% |
Catholic |
$10,565 |
$16,698 |
$6,770 |
4.4% |
80.4% |
Independent |
$9,159 |
$14,432 |
$5,872 |
4.4% |
80.2% |
Australian Capital Territory
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$2,384 |
$4,083 |
$1,875 |
5.3% |
19.4% |
Catholic |
$8,672 |
$11,293 |
$3,304 |
2.9% |
86.2% |
Independent |
$5,772 |
$7,276 |
$1,317 |
1.7% |
85.9% |
Northern Territory
|
2018 per student funding |
2029 per student funding |
2018-2029 per student increases (from 2017 base) ($) |
Avg. annual per student increase 2018-2029 (from 2017 base) |
Avg. 2022 CW share of needs-based funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government |
$6,386 |
$7,931 |
$1,521 |
1.8% |
21.9% |
Catholic |
$15,873 |
$26,518 |
$11,941 |
5.1% |
78.1% |
Independent |
$12,890 |
$19,843 |
$7,793 |
4.2% |
83.8% |
Source: Department of Education, Skills and Employment's school funding model, reflecting 22-23 Budget.
Note: figures are reported in whole dollars
For further information about how much total Australian Government and state or territory government funding a school receives, refer to the My School website at www.myschool.edu.au.
How much Australian Government funding is provided to schools in each state and territory?
This fact sheet sets out Australian Government funding contributions to school education in each state and territory