Campaigning "For Every Child"
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 127 No 5, 19 July 2024, page 14.
The latest Federal Budget failed to deliver. On Budget night, Canberra was abuzz about cost-of-living measures, paid practicums, teaching scholarships, HECS debt relief, and more. However, the Budget was strangely silent on state schools, teachers, education support staff, and students.
While we understand that school funding negotiations are ongoing between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments, the Federal Budget was a critical opportunity for the Albanese government to honour its election commitment to putting all schools on the path to 100 per cent of the schooling resource standard (SRS).
The issue of full funding for state schools remains unfinished business for the Albanese government, and it must be resolved this year.
Currently, only 1.3 per cent of state schools are funded at the 100 per cent of the SRS level, which was agreed upon a decade ago as the minimum required to meet students’ needs.
The challenges are too significant, and the cost of inaction too high for governments to neglect funding the future of our nation.
There are unacceptable achievement gaps between children from different backgrounds and locations, acute teacher shortages, and alarming declines in student wellbeing and engagement. We understand the problems facing state schools today; now it is time to deliver the solutions.
Throughout this term we have been campaigning tirelessly with our local MPs to gain their support for this critical issue. We have been out in schools, talking with P&Cs QLD at its 2024 Conference, and speaking with teachers and school leaders on the ground in some of the schools that are screaming out for staff and resources.
What will end this teacher crisis? Fully funding our state schools will provide the resources we need to support our most vulnerable students, resource our schools, and reduce some of the demands on our educators.
Our schools need governments to back them with the resources necessary to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education, provided by the incredible teachers we have across Queensland and Australia.
If we want to end the teacher crisis, we need to invest in our schools. Together, we can achieve full funding for state schools. Together, we can attract and retain teachers. Together, we can change lives. Click here (www.foreverychild.au/sign-up) to get involved.