From the President: Federal Budget highlights
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 4, 9 June 2023, page no.7
Among the highlights of the recent federal budget were the welcome spirit of collaboration between the Commonwealth and the states and territories evident in the negotiations for the next national skills agreement, and the Albanese government’s commitment to ensuring TAFE is at the heart of vocational education, and that it is supported by long-term, sustainable, and stable funding.
The federal government has asserted its commitment to public education and to repairing the damage that has been done to our state schools by the lack of appropriate resourcing from previous federal governments. However, firm commitments must now be made to provide 100 per cent of the schooling resourcing standard (SRS) threshold, and we need a fair and equitable renegotiation of the National School Reform Agreement later this year.
As we know, fair and equitable funding for both our state schools and TAFE is critically important to supporting the success and futures of our students. Such fair and equitable funding will help members in supporting students to achieve at their fullest, in education and in life.
Recently we distributed a link in relation to the NSRA review. This link remains open and can be accessed here: https://www.education.gov.au/review-inform-better-and-fairer-education-system/resources/review-inform-better-and-fairer-education-system-terms-reference
The federal budget is addressing some elements of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan. We appreciate the fact that a state, national and international teacher shortage is at the forefront of conversations for government. The budget announced $25.0 million over four years from 2022–23 for a Teacher Workload Reduction Fund piloting new ways to reduce teacher workloads. $4 million of this was spent in 2022-23, with $7 million to be spent per year over the next three years. $10 million was committed over two years from 2022–23 for a national communications campaign to raise the status of the teaching profession.
There are many stakeholder meetings occurring around elements of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan. We have and will continue to advocate and pressure for action on workload reduction to go beyond a bank of lesson plans to support teachers. What is required is time for conversations, planning and pedagogy development that will engage not only the students, but you, our members who deliver the content in a supportive and accessible way.
From the Federal Budget, attention now shifts to the State Budget, which was due to be handed down just before you received this Journal. At the end of 2022, Council endorsed a comprehensive set of asks to support schools and TAFE members.
We have met with Members of Parliament from the ALP, LNP and the Greens. Branches have also met with Ministers as well.
The QTU Budget Submission aligns to our priorities and core business. We have been calling for better resourcing of our sector to support curriculum engagement and behaviour.
Of particular note is our call for an increase in flexible or alternative learning centres. Reduced class sizes, targeted support, and behaviour specialists may be required as additional resources to support all students in our system to succeed, while ensuring that our members can access those resources as needed in their workplaces.
It is so important that we, as members, continue to maintain the pressure in our schools and communities for the right funding to support the work we do daily. Many of the pressures we face every day can be put down to the fact that the appropriate resourcing isn’t there, from both state and federal governments. Properly funding our sector could result in the right support for all students, reducing class sizes, and eliminating administrivia from the life of a busy teacher and school leader, giving you the ability to teach and learn.
Face to face teaching and learning is why we do our jobs. It’s the connection with colleagues and students that is the reason to get up every day.
"As we know, fair and equitable funding for both our state schools and TAFE is critically important to supporting the success and futures of our students."