Delayed Gonski Funding 

In the most recent APF newsletter, concern was raised regarding the announcement that Gonski funding for Victorian schools will be delayed by a further three years. The APF urges the Victorian Government to reverse this decision and honour its commitment to fully fund schools to the minimum Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) without further delay.

This issue has generated significant feedback from our members, many of whom have expressed deep frustration and disappointment over the postponement. The communication below reflects the sentiments shared widely and highlights the tangible benefits that could be realised in schools if the promised funding is delivered.

….I have been fuming for the past week at the underhanded way this funding has been kicked down the road by the state government. We are supposed to be the education state – what a joke! We are the lowest funded state, we deserve better. I am finding it increasingly difficult to balance my SRP as my teachers age, become CT2-6 and won’t leave! (It’s a great school – I understand why, but I am penalised for having a good school).

We have increasing numbers of students with disruptive/difficult behaviours and could really do with the extra funding to allocate more aides in classes.

I am really concerned that we are going to lose teachers from the profession as the demands just keep on increasing. I know of a teacher at another school who has said there are 4 teachers waiting to see the pay scales in the next agreement. If the Victorian Government doesn’t match NSW they will leave education because they feel undervalued. They are not moving to NSW, they have other jobs lined up, sadly, not in education.

However the government can find $350m for Albert Park F1 pit-lane upgrade, $4 billion (yes billion) for Sunshine station rebuild/upgrade – just shows where their priorities lie. Upgrade the station for $1.6 billion and give us the $2.4 billion now.

 My total SRP is just over $6,000,000 equating to $10,878 per child. The schooling resource standard for 2025 is $13,977 per student – a difference of $3099 per child! Private schools in some instances are ABOVE the SRS but we have to make do with underfunding.

 If my school was funded at the SRS, I would have an extra $1,754,034 available. What a boom that would be! Imagine what I could offer the students and teachers. I could have an aide in each class, I could hire ES staff to take the administrative burden off teachers (arranging excursions and camps is a bureaucratic OH&S risk management, medication minefield – so much paperwork!!!). Then the teachers could focus on teaching – there’s an idea.

So sad we are not given the money that Gonski talked about all those years ago….

(Principal Melbourne Metro School)