The McGowan Labor Government is increasing funding to improve outcomes for Western Australian students – particularly those with disabilities and additional learning needs – in the 2022-23 State Budget.
The State Budget includes a total of $5.9 billion for school education in 2022-23, an increase of $263.7 million or 4.7 per cent from the previous year.
From 2023, the Education Adjustment Allocation will expand to support more students with additional learning needs in developing their literacy and numeracy skills. This will provide public schools with $31.9 million in extra funding over the next four years.
An $18.2 million investment in WA’s in-demand Specialist Learning Programs for students with autism spectrum disorder will enable their expansion to eight additional schools.
The State Government will provide $2.5 million over five years for a new Year 1 phonics initiative to assess and support the development of students’ phonics skills.
From 2023, this new early intervention in literary development will ensure all public primary school students have the additional assistance they need to learn to read.
As well as ongoing investment in vital education services, the State Budget includes a total of $595 million for building and upgrading schools and school facilities across the State in 2022-23.
This includes $52.3 million for the expansion of three growing primary schools in popular Perth suburbs:
- Harrisdale Primary School ($22.9 million);
- Anne Hamersley Primary School in Ellenbrook ($19.1 million); and
- Caversham Valley Primary School ($10.3 million).
Another major school infrastructure spend in the 2022-23 Budget is $39.1 million to deliver the exciting second stage of construction works at Alkimos College.
This project is part of the McGowan Government’s ongoing program to expand and modernise Western Australia’s public schools and includes a student services area, performing arts centre, dance and visual arts studios, general and specialist classrooms, and science, technology and mathematics (STEM) classrooms.
Funding of $36.2 million will enable the planning and construction of education support facilities, an additional general learning classroom building and an offsite early childhood facility at Brabham Primary School.
The education support facilities for students with disability will include a physiotherapy gym and indoor hydrotherapy pool.
To provide further support for students with disabilities, $4.6 million will fund the implementation of the Students with Disabilities and Complex Behaviour Framework.
The framework has been developed by the Department of Education to effectively support WA schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities and complex behaviours and assist them to unlock and fulfil their future potential.
An additional $33.8 million in funding will go towards maintenance upgrades to improve public schools. These include traffic management improvements to mitigate traffic risks around school sites and hard court remediation.
To respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacting WA schools, $42.5 million in funding will ensure schools can remain open and safe. This includes supporting the continuation of enhanced cleaning programs in public schools, and maintaining mask and personal protective equipment supplies and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) distribution for all schools.
Funding of $3.8 million in 2022-23 and an additional $5.5 million asset investment from the 2021-22 land acquisition program will secure three additional sites for future primary schools and a site for an education support facility.
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As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“The McGowan Government is committed to ensuring Western Australian public schools have the resources they need to provide students with the best possible learning experiences.
“As part of our work to improve education outcomes, our 2022-23 State Budget commits significant resources to new and expanding initiatives to support students with disabilities and additional learning needs.
“Our strong investment in new school facilities and upgrades continues, acknowledging the value of modern and fit-for-purpose learning areas in providing a quality education and setting students up for successful lives.
“We are also funding the State’s ongoing response to COVID-19 in schools, including ventilation measures to help keep school students and staff safe, in line with current health advice.”
