Victorian public school students get nation’s least funding from government

Victoria’s state school students each received thousands of dollars less in funding than those at government schools in all other states and territories, according to new data that also exposes the income gap between the public and private sectors.

Government schools in Victoria received $16,964 per student from the state and Commonwealth combined in 2023, compared with a national average of $18,669, the latest National Report on Schooling in Australia shows.

Public school kids in Victoria received less government funding in 2023 than in any other jurisdiction.Credit: Getty Images

The Victorian government invested less per student than any other jurisdiction, the report shows. Commonwealth funding for schools in the state was also low, with only the Australian Capital Territory receiving less per student.

Australian Education Union Victoria president Justin Mullaly said insufficient funding of public schools undermined educational and wellbeing outcomes for students.

“And right now, it is school staff who are filling the funding shortfalls to ensure students continue to receive quality teaching and learning,” he said.

Schools also get funding from other sources including fees and contributions. When adding those to the total government funding, Victoria’s public school students each received $17,904 on average in 2023.

Victoria’s Catholic schools, meanwhile, received $15,810 per student in total government funding that year – but when combined with other income from fees and donations, that jumped to $21,462.

The state’s independent school students got $12,389 each from the government funding, but when combined with other income sources it worked out to $29,418 per student on average.

Geelong Grammar, the highest-fee school in Victoria, received $7028 per student from the state and Commonwealth governments combined, up from $6486 in 2022. When factoring in fees and donations, it received $46,380 per student in 2023 – a 4.3 per cent increase on the year prior.

The report – compiled by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority – showed total recurrent government funding for schooling was almost $86 billion nationally in the 2022-23 financial year.

This comprised almost $59 billion (68.5 per cent) from state and territories and more than $27 billion (31.5 per cent) from the Commonwealth budget.

In January, Victoria signed an agreement to receive extra state school funding from the Commonwealth. Canberra agreed to pay about $2.5 billion through to 2036, with the state paying the rest.

The deal ended an18-month stand-off between the Albanese government and the state to fund Victorian schools to 25 per cent of the benchmark schools resourcing standard.

Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll is now locked into negotiations with his federal counterpart over when the increased funding will come through.

Mullaly said finalising the delivery of the funding was as “urgent as it is essential” for Victoria’s public school students.

“With full funding delivered as soon as possible, schools will be able to employ more teachers and education support staff, provide more small group and individual support for students, boost wellbeing programs and ensure every student gets greater individual attention,” he said.

“It will be easier to attract and retain school staff and better address teacher shortages, as well as help tackle excessive school staff workloads.”

A Victorian government spokesperson said the agreement with the Commonwealth would provide 100 per cent of the resourcing standard to government schools, “meaning every school will receive the funding needed to help students thrive”.

The state had increased its recurrent expenditure for government school students by 30.8 per cent since 2013-14 – more than any other jurisdiction, they said.

“Our priority is making sure that all students can attend a great school backed by full and fair funding,” they said.

The report also showed Victorian students’ retention rates from year 10 to 12 decreased slightly, down from 82.1 per cent across school sectors in 2022 to 81.9 per cent in 2023.

Retention was highest for students at independent schools at 95 per cent, while Catholic schools recorded 85.8 per cent and government schools 75.9 per cent.

Nationally, retention rates from year 10 to 12 also decreased slightly from 79 per cent to 78.7 per cent in the same period.

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Rachel Holthouse said the report debunked the myth that independent schools were overfunded and received more government funding than their counterparts.

She said independent schools were overwhelmingly funded by parents who sacrificed their incomes to educate their children in a school that matched their needs.

“Government funding for students in independent schools is based on a complex formula which reduces the amount of funding they receive depending on parents’ income,” Holthouse said.

“ISV believes every student, regardless of school sector, deserves proper support.”

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