The Coalition Government will support parental choice and affordability in education through a $1.2 billion fund.
The Government has finalised agreements with non-government school representative bodies on how the Choice and Affordability Fund will be used to benefit students and their school communities to 2029.
The Choice and Affordability Fund will be directed towards:
Non-government schools in regional, rural and remote areas;
Schools affected by drought, bushfires and other natural disasters, where short-term financial viability is affected;
Enhancing student wellbeing and support initiatives; and
- Lifting outcomes in underperforming schools.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Choice and Affordability Fund would support the non-government school sector to address specific challenges and provide additional support to its students and parents.
“The Choice and Affordability Fund will help non-government schools to transition to the direct measure of income funding arrangements over the next 10 years,” Mr Tehan said.
“A minimum nine per cent of total funding will support regional, rural and remote schools to transition to the new funding arrangements.
“Our Government supports parents having a choice of where to send their children to school.
“A vibrant, fairly funded non-government school sector ensures parents retain that choice while also alleviating pressure on the state school system.
“The Choice and Affordability Fund will assist families to have more affordable options when deciding where to send their children to school.
“The Morrison Government is also providing record school recurrent funding of $314.7 billion to 2029, which is per student funding growth of 59.6 per cent.”
The Independent school sector representative bodies represent more than 1,120 schools, and Catholic school sector representative bodies represent more than 1,740 schools.
