How Queensland’s most exclusive private schools can access billions meant for rural, remote schools

A fund the PM said was for schools in “regional areas, drought affected or underperforming” will be able to be accessed by some of Queensland’s top Catholic and independent private schools.

QUEENSLAND’S most expensive and exclusive private schools will be able to access a $1.2 billion fund originally meant to poorer and underperforming areas, as well as rural and remote regions.

As part of a funding fight peace offering, Catholic and independent schools were given the Choice and Affordability fund aimed at helping out regional areas and low-fee schools.

But it has now been revealed there will be no guidelines prohibiting high-fee, city-based schools from being able to access the grants for a range of projects.

This could include using the money for “student wellbeing programs” and to help the school transition into the new needs-based funding model.

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Top Queensland private schools will be able to access a $1.2 billion Choice and Affordability fund originally pitched as for regional, remote and drought affected schools, as well as low socio-economic areas. Picture: News Corp Australia

Queensland Catholic and independent school sectors both say they will prioritise drought-affected schools when using the fund.

Department deputy secretary Alex Gordon said the guidelines for the fund were still being drawn up, more than a year after the fund was announced, but would be finalised and published by the end of December.

Ms Gordon said but the guidelines would not be excluding schools, but set out how the fund could be used.

“They don’t rule any schools in or out,” she told a Senate committee.

She said it could be used to improve affordability, assisting schools in regional areas, helping schools to transition to the new funding model and student wellbeing programs.

When it was announced Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the fund would be focused on “rural, regional and remote locations, drought-affected areas or underperforming schools”.

Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek said there needed to be more accountability.

“This is very different to how he described the fund when he announced it,” she said.

Queensland Catholic Education Commission boss Lee-Anne Perry said all Catholic school authorities would receive a share of the fund to use to address their own challenges.

Queensland Catholic Education Commission boss Lee-Anne Perry. Picture: Supplied

“These challenges include maintaining Catholic education as an affordable choice for all families, keeping small rural and remote schools functioning, and supporting drought affected school communities,” she said.

Independent Schools Queensland boss David Robertson said they would follow the guidelines set by the government.

“ISQ has already identified that a high priority will be for schools enrolling students impacted by the drought which includes schools in regional and remote areas,” he said.