Queensland Keen to Discuss Details of Gonski Review

The Queensland Government has welcomed the Australian Government's decision to consult further on the Gonski report into schools funding. The review's recommendations include a base funding rate with weighting based on socio-economic factors, Indigenous students, school size, English proficiency, remoteness and disability.

Other recommendations include strategies for promoting philanthropic partnerships with schools, and establishment of an independent National Schools Resourcing Body to set the level of investment needed to provide a high quality education.

Education Minister Cameron Dick said the Queensland Government was keen to discuss the report's details with the Australian Government. "The Queensland Government will advocate to ensure the unique geographic and demographic challenges of education delivery in our state are taken into account in any further consultations," Mr Dick said.

"Queensland has about 30 per cent of Australia 's Indigenous students, representing nearly seven per cent of students in the state. "Our state schools enrol almost 90 per cent of remote students, 85 per cent of indigenous students and more than 80 per cent of students with a disability.

"Also, a very large number of low socio-economic status (SES) students attend Queensland state schools. "Any new funding model must recognise the critical role of government schools in providing access to all students, regardless of their background or disadvantage.

"If there is any additional funding from the Federal Government, we will certainly be out to ensure Queensland gets its fair share." Mr Dick said Queensland was the most decentralised state population-wise in the nation and this factor needed to be appropriately factored into any new funding model.

"This is a unique opportunity to develop more equitable funding arrangements for all schools and this extra consultation will help th e Australian Government get this right," Mr Dick said. "The report requires detailed analysis and we would, of course, liaise closely with stakeholders from state, Catholic and independent schools to get their feedback on the report's findings.

"We want to make sure that Queensland is not disadvantaged by any possible changes to the Federal funding model. "It is the basic right of every parent to choose the best school for their child, based on universal access to a quality education, no matter where they live, how much they earn, or what they believe in."

The objectives of the Federal Government funding review include:

• Supporting higher achievement for all students;
• Delivering equity in access to high quality education;
• Delivering excellent teaching and learning outcomes;
• Supporting school choice for a diverse range of schools, allowing parents to choose the school that is right for their c hild;
• Providing fairness, transparency and accountability;
• Supporting continuous improvement and innovation in school performance;
• Delivering financial sustainability, to ensure that schools can be financed properly into the future;
• Providing stability and certainty for schools about their funding, ensuring that no school loses a dollar of funding per student as a result of any changes. Mr Dick said the government was committed to education and had been building a world-class education system in Queensland.

"We have always believed that investing in the education of our children is the best way to create a stronger, smarter and fairer Queensland," he said. "That's why we've announced the exciting Queensland Education Trust - a massive long-term investment in the minds of our children

"We have also embarked on a program of reform in recent years that is now delivering great results for Queensland students." Mr Dick said any new funding model must be fair, equitable and transparent to give parents a more informed choice.

"It's important to recognise parental choice in education and to ensure that the different needs of students, wherever they go to school, are appropriately met," he said.

Education and Industrial Relations
The Honourable Cameron Dick
20/02/2012

Permanent Link: Queensland Keen to Discuss Details of Gonski Review
Publish Date: 21 Feb 12

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