The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (the Agreement) is a joint agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories to help create a better and fairer education system for all students.
On this page:
The Agreement commences on 1 January 2025 and replaces the current National School Reform Agreement which will expire on 31 December 2024. The Agreement will run for 10 years from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2034.
The Agreement will ensure all public schools receive full and fair funding over the life of the Agreement and put every public school on a path to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). It aims to improve education outcomes for all Australian students and build on the capability and capacity of the education workforce. It outlines a set of reforms in areas where national collaboration will have the greatest impact on driving improved student outcomes.
Through this Agreement, all governments commit to targeted reforms focused on three priority areas:
- equity and excellence
- wellbeing for learning and engagement
- a strong and sustainable workforce.
The Agreement contains 10 National Reform Directions which support the achievement of these 3 priority areas. The National Reform Directions align with key elements of quality schooling and will support all students to reach their educational potential.
The Agreement has been informed by several inputs including the findings and recommendations of:
- the Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System
- the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National School Reform Agreement.
The Agreement has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and peak bodies. This engagement has been essential in recognising the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledge and honours the Australian Government’s commitments to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The Agreement has also been developed in collaboration with non-government education representatives.
Heads of Agreement
Three states and territories have signed on to the Heads of Agreement.
- Northern Territory – signed 31 July 2024
- Western Australia – signed 3 September 2024
- Tasmania – signed 25 September 2024
National Enabling Initiatives
National Enabling Initiatives are specific activities that require collaboration between all governments to be achieved. National Enabling Initiatives will enable governments to effectively implement future reform efforts and system-level improvements.
There are 5 National Enabling Initiatives in this Agreement:
- Review of the Schooling Resource Standard base and loadings calculation methodology.
- Implementation of the Unique Student Identifier for school students.
- Undertake collective work to better understand and provide advice to Education Ministers on:
- socioeconomic diversity, its impact on schools and student learning and approaches to addressing these impacts.
- school attendance, its impact on learning and mechanisms to advance evidence-based approaches to addressing non-attendance, including school refusal.
- Review of the Measurement Framework for Schooling in Australia.
- Development of an early years of schooling numeracy check.
Each National Enabling Initiative will have a Project plan. These plans will be available on this page once developed and endorsed by Education Ministers.
Bilateral Agreements
Under the Agreement, states and territories are also required to have a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth, that sets out state and territory-specific actions to improve student outcomes. Bilateral agreements include activities that support priority equity cohorts such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students in regional, rural and remote areas, student with disability and students from a low SES background.
Bilateral agreements outline minimum state and territory school funding contribution shares as a condition of receiving Australian Government school funding. Reporting guidance has been developed to assist states and territories to report on their funding contributions.
Each state and territory will need to sign a Heads of Agreement and a Bilateral Agreement with the Australian Government in 2024 to receive Australian Government funding from January 2025. The Australian Government is continuing to negotiate with other states and territories to sign them up to the Agreement and ensure that all public schools across the country benefit from the increased investment and reforms.