THE GONSKI REVIEW OF SCHOOL FUNDING Update for Principals

 Review of all funding (recurrent, equity programs, capital) for all schools (Catholic, government and Independent) set up by the Australian Government.  Being carried out by a panel chaired by Sydney businessman David Gonski. What is the Gonski Review?

Timeline for the Review  Submissions were due by the end March NCEC submission made on behalf of the Catholic sector.  A second issues paper will be released in August/September and further submissions invited.  Final report delivered late  Government consultations during late 2011/early  Legislation by mid-2012 for a new funding model to operate from 2014.

What is the current situation with government funding?  Recurrent funding comes from three main sources: Australian government, State government, parent and community contributions.  Latest figures (My school website) show Catholic schools in Australia on average per student receive: $5,700 - Australian Government $2,000 - State Government Total: $7,700 per student.

What is the current situation with government funding cont……..?  State schools in Australia receive on average $10,600 per student in government funding.  Catholic schools therefore receive only about 73% of the government funding received by state schools.

Source: ACARA My School Website (March 2011)

 Taking into account Federal and State government funding as well as parent and community contributions, Australian Catholic schools have a total net average annual recurrent income per student of $10,008.  For Government schools the figure is $11,132 and for Independent schools it is $13,711.  The Queensland Catholic sector figure is $9,655 per student.  Queensland Catholic sector income is made up of 53% from Federal government, 19% from State government and 28% from parents and community. What is the total resourcing situation including parent and community contributions?

Source: ACARA My School Website (March 2011) $11,132 28% 19%

The “Funding Maintained” Issue  Under the Federal funding model in place prior to 2001, the Catholic sector had been funded at a rate roughly equivalent to SES 96 score.  In 2004, the Catholic sector agreed to participate in the SES funding model provided no school would be worse off.  Therefore, schools with an SES score above 96 were funded at SES 96. This is sometimes referred to as “funding maintained”.

The “Funding Maintained” Issue cont…..  It should be recognised that all Catholic schools in Queensland and 96% of Catholic schools in Australia participate in group funding where all Federal government funding is distributed within the Catholic sector according to needs criteria.  Therefore, had the agreement not been reached, the Catholic sector would have been further disadvantaged in comparison to government schools.  It is true that if the existing SES model is continued post-Gonski but without the ‘funding maintained’ agreement, then the Catholic sector would lose a significant amount of funding.

The “Funding Maintained” Issue cont…..  In many ways, the funding maintained argument is no longer relevant.  The Catholic sector is the lowest resourced schooling sector. What is critical is that the total quantum of funds allocated to the Catholic sector in the future is at least what is currently provided regardless of the mechanism or system used to deliver those funds.

What is the Catholic sector seeking from the Review? The NCEC submission calls for:  As a minimum, no reduction in overall funding in real terms to enable Catholic education to continue to provide high quality, high equity education.  The maintenance of block funding to State Catholic Education Commissions to enable them to continue to distribute funds according to assessed local need.  Appropriate funding to assist Indigenous students, students with disability, schools in regional and remote areas, and new arrival and refugee students (for whom English is a second language) to achieve better educational outcomes.

 NCEC research to better understand perceptions of funding of Catholic schools in Australia. This will be completed by the end of July and findings will inform key messages for communications and advocacy.  NCEC/QCEC is developing a communications and political advocacy strategy that will be implemented in the second half of this year.  This campaign will rely heavily on the support of Principals and school communities. What is being done to help achieve a positive outcome from the Gonski review and a satisfactory funding model into the future?

 Be clear about the facts on school funding and the issues and timelines in relation to the Gonski review.  Brief staff, Board, P&F and Parish Priest.  Take any opportunity to express concerns to Federal MPs and Senators.  Advocate for the Catholic sector position within your communities as materials become available and opportunities arise. *Further information is available on the QCEC website at: What can Principals do?