
9 February 2022
The Commonwealth’s new non-government school funding model hits schools squarely where it already hurts – in regional Australia. According to the Coalition of Regional Independent Schools Australia (CRISA), more than $180 million each year will be stripped from 164 regional independent schools across Australia when the new funding model is fully implemented. This impact will be felt in areas where communities are trying to recover from the devastation of drought, fire and flood, not to mention loss of tourism dollars due to COVID-19’s impact on travel. CRISA Chairman, Stephen Higgs OAM, said: ‘This goes against what we need in regional Australia – we need more parental choice and greater investment in all schools, not a model that reduces educational options for young people in the country. ‘These cuts disproportionately and unfairly impact regional Independent schools, with these schools losing funding at an average rate of $760 per student. By contrast this loss is $287 per student across metropolitan independent schools. How can that possibly be fair? ‘We have heard from many Members of Parliament who are stunned that an outcome of the Federal Government’s non-government school funding policy means money being stripped from schools in country Australia. They rightly ask why the Federal Government would undermine its own stated commitment to both parental choice in school education and growth in regional Australia. We agree, and ask Federal MPs across regional Australia – and all who support school choice for regional families - to advocate change to this unfair policy. ‘CRISA and its members will not stop our campaign until this issue is addressed - all the way to the Federal election and beyond if needed,’ he declared. ‘These funding cuts diminish the affordability of independent education for regional families, many of whom sacrifice a great deal to contribute to the cost of their children’s education.’ ‘Our Principals right across the nation have enough on their hands already without having to deal with unfair funding cuts. They are determined to guard for young regional Australians the educational outcomes threatened by this funding model. We need urgent Ministerial intervention to stand up for regional Australia’ Mr Higgs concluded.
Stephen Higgs 0417 112 577 stephen.higgs@es.edu.au
The Federal Government plans to use Australian Taxation Office data to calculate the median income of parents and guardians for each non-government school and allocate funding on this basis, assuming it measures the school community’s 'capacity to contribute' to the costs of schooling.
Analysis of the statistics of this approach shows it will unfairly penalise certain schools.
For schools with broad demographics, the median income formula is likely to yield an unfair over-estimate of the
DMI (the 'new SES').
This will result in reduced government funding, with some
regional schools losing well over $1M annually. They will be forced to raise fees substantially, may lose enrolments,
and could ultimately have to close.
See our manifesto for a full explanation.
Stephen Higgs OAM
Mr Stuart Marquardt
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
Mr Nick Johnstone
Bishop Druitt College
Mr Paul Sjogren
Trinity Anglican School
Mr David Shepherd
Ballarat Clarendon College
Mr Mark Sawle
Great Southern Grammar School
Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour
Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth
Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Terranora
Moama Anglican Grammar School, Moama
St Paul's Grammar School, Cranebrook
The Illawarra Grammar School, Wollongong
Haileybury Rendall School, Berrimah
St Philip's College, Alice Springs
The Essington International School, Darwin
All Souls St Gabriels School, Charters Towers
Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim
Somerset College, Mudgeeraba
The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James, Townsville
Trinity Anglican School, White Rock
Launceston Church Grammar School, Launceston
Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Bacchus Marsh
Ballarat and Clarendon College, Ballarat
Ballarat Grammar, Wendouree
Billanook College, Mooroolbark
Braemar College, Woodend
Eltham College, Eltham
Gippsland Grammar, Sale and Bairnsdale
Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Shepparton
Highview College, Maryborough
Kardinia International College, Bell Post Hill
St Paul's Anglican Grammar School, Warragul and Traralgon
The Geelong College, Newtown
The Hamilton and Alexandra College, Hamilton
Westbourne Grammar School, Truganina
Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School, Gelorup
Court Grammar School, Mundijong
Geraldton Grammar School, Geraldton
Great Southern Grammar, Lower Kalgan
Hale School, Wembley Downs
Mandurah Baptist College, Mandurah
South Coast Baptist College, Waikiki
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