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The Coalition outlines its own vision for education in the 2018 federal budget.

 The federal government says it will continue to boost schools investment and reform education. Read the Turnbull government’s own words about its 2018 education budget:

Every student deserves support that suits his or her needs. That’s why this Budget confirms the Coalition’s new schools funding plan that started this year will boost our investment in schools by $1.0 billion every year for the next decade.

The Coalition has accepted the recommendations of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools in principle. The blueprint that’s been laid out by David Gonski AC and a panel of experts will help shape a new agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories to ensure schools, teachers and families are armed with the opportunities they need to deliver better outcomes for Australian students.

In June, the Government is also due to receive the independent report of the review into the socio-economic status score methodology from the National School Resourcing Board, which will cover the operation of the capacity to contribute settings in non-government school funding arrangements. We will respond to the review this year.

The Coalition has also committed $247.0 million over four years to continue the valuable work of the National School Chaplaincy Programme (NSCP), providing continued support for approximately 3000 schools to employ a chaplain. 

Under the renewed program, school chaplains will also be required to upgrade their skills by undertaking cyber-bullying training provided by the eSafety Commissioner and continue to support community involvement in the school.

Following the success of programs like Teach for Australia to accelerate high-achievers from other fields into the education system, the Coalition will take steps to support the growth of alternative pathways into the teaching profession and support areas of workforce shortage. The High Achieving Teachers program will help attract up to 200 highly skilled people into the teaching profession from a range of fields and support the education needs of students in areas where there may be shortages of educators.

Education opportunities for the bush

The Coalition understands that students who grow up in regional or remote communities should have the same access to quality education and training opportunities as students who live in cities. Emeritus Professor Dr John Halsey’s Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education focused on how to ensure every student, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to succeed.

The Coalition Government will make Youth Allowance more accessible for regional and remote students, through increasing the parental income means tested cap for independent students.

We are increasing opportunities for students in regional and remote areas to enjoy the benefits of higher education by investing $28.2 million to create around 500 additional commencing Commonwealth Supported Places from 2019 in sub-bachelor and enabling programs. These additional places will be allocated through a competitive process to universities in regional areas. In addition, the Government will commit a further $14.0 million to support an extra 185 commencing Commonwealth supported bachelor places annually for bachelor-level courses for use through Regional Study Hubs (growing to approximately 500 additional places annually by 2022).

School News

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