Education
General Recurrent Grants
The General Recurrent Grants Program helps government and non-government schools with the recurrent costs of school education so that they can offer students educational programmes directed towards the achievement of the Australian Government's priorities for schooling. Consistent with the National Goals for Schooling, those priorities are aimed at ensuring that all students are allowed to realise their full potential, so that they leave school with the knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to their post-school destinations, and that they have a sound foundation for undertaking further education and training, participating successfully in the workforce, and contributing and benefiting from Australian society.
Website: General Recurrent Grants
Illawarra schools have received record amounts of funding through the Federal Government.
There are many misconceptions about Federal Government funding to our schools. 67% of students attend government schools and receive 75% of public funding whereas 33% attend non-government schools and receive 25% of public funding. These actual figures do not match the rhetoric of our Labor opponents and the Teachers Federation.
According to the Productivity Commission Report on Government Services 2007, in dollar terms for example, in 2004/2005 this meant that total taxpayer funding provided on average per student in State Government schools was $10,715 compared with $6,054 per student in Catholic and Independent schools.
It is worth pointing out that the NSW Government is receiving record amounts of GST revenue. In fact 44% of total state revenue is provided by the Commonwealth. In 2007/2008 NSW will receive a record $11.9 billion in GST funding from the Commonwealth.
Details of recurrent funding to non-government schools have been provided. Details of recurrent public school funding provided to Government schools were not available and as a result have not been included.
Investing In Our Schools Program
The $1 Billion Investing in Our Schools Program was announced by the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP in 2004. In 2005-2008, the Program is providing $700 million to government schools and $300 million to non-government schools to fund projects identified and prioritised by school communities. Over the life of the Program, government schools may apply for up to $150,000. By focusing on delivering small-scale projects that have been identified as a priority by school communities, the Australian Government is providing local communities with a voice to determine what they think is important for their schools.
Website: Investing In Our Schools Program
Capital Grants Program
The Australian Government has committed $1.7 billion for capital works in schools across Australia for the 2005-2008 quadrennium.
The focus of the Capital Grants Program is to provide and improve school capital infrastructure particularly for the most educationally disadvantaged students.
Australian Government capital grants are supplementary to funds provided by state and territory governments, non-government school authorities and school communities which have primary responsibility for providing, maintaining and upgrading school facilities.
Website: Capital Grants Program
Parent School Partnerships Initiative
The Parent School Partnerships Initiatives (PSPIs) encourages parents of Indigenous students, Indigenous communities, schools and other organisations, to work together to address local barriers to education.
The PSPI supplements mainstream education services and programmes, and may provide a mechanism for capacity building in Indigenous communities to enhance learning outcomes of Indigenous students.
Website: Parent School Partnerships Initiative
Homework Centres
Homework Centres (HWC) are part of the Australian Government's Whole of School Intervention Strategy which encourages schools and local Indigenous communities to work in partnership to develop and deliver initiatives to improve education outcomes for Indigenous school students.
HWCs provide a supervised after-school hour's environment which encourages Indigenous students to complete their homework and to study. These are usually set up in a school classroom, library or other school building and are supervised by people from the local Indigenous community and schools.
HWCs aim to provide a supervised, supportive after-school environment for Indigenous students to complete their homework or to study.
Website: Homework Centres
Regional Industry Careers Advisers Network
The RICA Network will work in partnership with LCPs to engage schools, local business/industry and community groups or representatives to ensure that all young people have access to expert industry career advice.
Website: Regional Industry Careers Advisers Network
Youth Pathways
Youth Pathways aims to assist the most at-risk young people to make a successful transition through to completion of year 12 (or its equivalent) and ultimately, to further education, training or employment and active participation in the community. Nationally the programme will assist over 17,000 young people aged 13 to 19 years old each year by providing intensive individualised assistance and support to help young people to make a successful transition.
Eligible young people participating in Youth Pathways will receive services which include:
- Personal one-on-one assistance to help identify strengths, goals and barriers;
- Individual support to achieve their goals;
- Individual support and guidance to help overcome barriers, and;
- Other services aimed at better equipping young people to successfully make the transition through school and from school to further education, training or employment.
Website: Youth Pathways
