National inquiry into state school infrastructure
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 131 No 2, 2 April 2026, page no 17.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) has launched Australia’s first national inquiry into state school infrastructure, marking the beginning of a nationwide consultation to ensure every child learns in a safe, modern, and inclusive state school.
The inquiry will examine the current state of state school infrastructure across Australia, assess future needs, and recommend long-term funding and policy reforms to deliver future-ready schools in every community.
Launching the inquiry in Adelaide, AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said: “State schools are at the heart of every community. They shape our nation’s future, and they deserve long-term, coordinated investment that matches their importance.”
“This inquiry will gather the evidence of unmet needs across Australia. We want to ensure every child, no matter their postcode, has access to high-quality learning environments that support their success.”
The inquiry will consult widely with principals, teachers, education support staff, families, governments, and community organisations. It will also engage with groups representing Aboriginal communities and Torres Strait Islander communities, students with disability, and rural and remote Australians.
The inquiry is chaired by former AEU and ACTU President Sharan Burrow AC. Sharan will lead the national consultation process, bringing decades of experience in advocating for equity, strong public institutions, and long-term nation-building reform. She will be joined by Deputy Chair Maurie Mulheron, former President of the NSW Teachers Federation.
The AEU has released an issues paper to guide the consultation process (see https://www.aeufederal.org.au/application/files/5117/7216/1292/AEU_Schools_for_our_Future_Report_WEB.pdf).
Ms Haythorpe said the inquiry comes at a critical moment.
“While we have a national framework for recurrent school funding, there is no equivalent national strategy for public school infrastructure and no permanent Commonwealth capital funding stream.”
“With the Commonwealth abandoning capital works funding in 2017, states and territories are going it alone. Investing in state school infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to lift outcomes and strengthen equity across the system.”
More than 2.6 million students attend Australia’s state schools. Enrolments have grown significantly over the past decade, and population projections point to continued growth in school-age children. Student needs are becoming more complex, with rising numbers of students requiring additional learning, wellbeing and disability supports.
Ms Haythorpe said infrastructure must keep pace with these realities.
“Teachers are delivering extraordinary work with increasingly diverse and complex student needs. They deserve state of the art facilities that complement the high-quality teaching they provide,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“Improved capital works are not just about buildings. It’s about inclusion, wellbeing, and opportunity. If governments are serious about improving student educational outcomes, then investing in infrastructure must be on their agenda.”
Ms Haythorpe said the launch in Adelaide signals the start of a constructive national conversation.
“This is a nation-building project. It’s about planning not just for the next budget cycle, but for the next generation,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“Investing in state school infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to lift outcomes and strengthen equity across the system.”
“Every child deserves to learn in a school designed for the future, not the past. Through this inquiry, we are inviting governments and communities to work with us to make that vision a reality.”