Blog

Our profession needs political leaders who understand what teachers are going through, who are prepared to stand up for them and, most importantly, to deliver for them. Peter Dutton is not one of those leaders.

Dozens of voters concerned about the future of public education attended a candidate forum in the electorate of Boothby on Monday, to understand the views and policy positions of those wanting to become the next Member for Boothby.

There’s a stark choice facing voters this year thanks to the major parties’ radically different views on teaching and learning and, critically, how schools should be funded.

This election is an opportunity to vote for a better education for every child in public schools. For the first time, agreements have been struck between the Albanese Government and the states and territories that put public schools on the path to full funding.

Public schools are on the path to full funding! After years of campaigning, real SRS funding is within reach. The election will decide our schools' future. #FairFunding

This week we made history. On the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra we were joined by State Education Ministers from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory, as well as Public Education Association leaders, public school principals, teachers, parents and students, all coming together to fight for full funding of public schools. 

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% of the Schooling Resource Standard. 

We're asking the Prime Minister to show he still cares about public schools. You can watch and share our video calling on Anthony Albanese to fully fund public schools here. 

Last week a significant $768 million funding deal was struck between the Albanese Government and the Northern Territory. But we still need the Federal Government to step up for the other states and fulfil their promise to provide full funding to public schools by increasing their contribution from 22.5% to 25%, rather than pressuring states to sign a deal which falls short.

The urgent need for the full funding of public schools is demonstrated in new research that reveals acute teacher shortages, unsustainable workloads and alarming declines in student wellbeing and engagement that schools do not have the resources to fully address.

What a whirlwind this month has been!

Throughout May we took the For Every Child van on a tour of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland - speaking to teachers, support staff, principals, students and parents about the impact that full funding could have on their schools, their lives and their communities.