All Australian schools now funded, but biggest states wait until 2034
Every Australian public school will reach full funding by 2034, but three big states must wait that long.
Victoria has signed a long-term school funding deal with the federal government, making it the last state to set a timetable for full and fair funding. By 2034 at the latest, every public school system across Australia should reach 100% of the needs-based benchmark set by the 2011 Gonski review.
Under the deals, the federal government will pay 25% of the funding required, with states and territories covering 75%. The timeline varies sharply: the ACT, Western Australia and Tasmania are already fully funded, while NSW, Queensland and South Australia will not reach 100% until 2034.
Victoria will get there by 2031 if its budget allows, otherwise 2034. The agreements are worth an estimated A$16.5 billion in extra federal funding over the next decade.
But a child starting school in 2022 will finish Year 12 in 2034 and never attend a fully funded school under the current timetable.
- 25%
- Federal share
- 75%
- State and territory share
- 2034
- Full funding deadline
- A$16.5 billion
- Extra federal funding decade one
Why it mattersTwo full generations of public school students in the biggest states will spend their entire schooling in systems funded below the benchmark, while the gap between rich and poor students widens.
AustraliaPublic school students in NSW, Queensland and South Australia will not experience fully funded schools under the current agreement. Funding shortfalls are linked to growing reading gaps between wealthy and disadvantaged families.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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