Last week, Tasmania signed on to the Federal Government’s school funding deal, locking in 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) for the state’s public schools from 2026 – nine years earlier than was initially proposed.
Under the deal signed between the Rockliff and Albanese governments, the Commonwealth will invest $153.5m from 2025 to 2029 in Tasmanian public schools while the Rockliff Government will increase its investment in schools by $195.9m over the same period.
Tasmanian Principals Association President, Mat Grining, called the deal a “once-in-a generation, reset” of public education funding.
“We certainly applaud both the State and Federal governments in being able to come to an agreement that provides a significant reset for public education in Tasmania,” Grining told The Educator.
“We also recognise that the SRS is just the minimum standard. So, whilst we are talking about a new baseline figure for public education in our state, while other sectors may be sitting above 100% SRS.”
Grining said the TPA was also “heartened” that the timeline was pushed forward to 2026.
“Our leaders and members are excited about the opportunities that these significant resources will bring through the school gate from the beginning of next year,” Grining said.
“From the details we can see, this agreement provides the resources needed to sustain the current initiatives and direction set by the Tasmanian Government, particularly in the areas of literacy improvement, student wellbeing, engagement, and attendance.”
Grining said the TPA’s members see “clear alignment” between the system's direction and the objectives in the bilateral agreement.
“We implore the state government to consider the clause allowing them discretion to see up to 4% of funding used for functions like regulatory bodies, that are accessed by the non-government sector”, he said. “But there's really positive energy at the moment around the future of public education.”
Questions remain over funding measurement
The Australian Secondary Principals' Association (ASPA) welcomed the announcement but said it is seeking clarity on how the funding for Tasmania’s schools will be measured.
“The intent to develop a shared definition of educational success for young people is a very positive development, and ASPA looks forward to contributing to this important conversation,” ASPA president, Andy Mison, said.
“We are also keen to see how the outcomes of Tasmania's Independent Education Review can further enhance these initiatives.”
Mison emphasised the need for principal involvement in the design and implementation of these strategies.
“Principals possess invaluable insights into the specific needs of their school communities and should play a crucial role in ensuring the success of these reforms,” Mison said. “A measured and steady approach to implementation, with careful consideration of school workload, will be essential for long-term success.”
Mison said ASPA is also keen to explore how Tasmania’s contribution is measured.
“The ability to deduct depreciation costs raises concerns about the potential impact on achieving the 100% SRS target for Tasmanian public schools,” he said.
“We note that the agreement allows the Tasmanian Government a discretionary opportunity to ensure the full 100% SRS funding goes directly where it is most needed, and encourage them to cover the 4% shortfall through additional funding.”