Australian Government Funding Announcement

The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA) welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to extend for a further twelve months the interim school funding arrangements for non-government schools.

Speaking after the announcement by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education AISSA Chief Executive, Mrs Carolyn Grantskalns, noted that this decision provides SA Independent schools with certainty for 2019. “Schools are well into their budgeting and planning processes and it is critical that they are able to do so with confidence.”

Mrs Grantskalns further welcomed the Government’s acknowledgement that significant work is needed to resolve some fundamental issues before the recommendations of the Review of SES Methodology can be implemented and its commitment to phase in the new model to minimise the impact on schools negatively affected by changes. “This decision will enable Independent schools and their communities to have confidence that the new arrangements will be valid, fair and equitable and that schools will be provided with the opportunity to plan. I look forward to working with the Government to progress this critical work”.

The AISSA expresses its appreciation to the Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan, and his predecessor, the Hon Simon Birmingham, for their willingness to work with the Independent school sector and their commitment to sector blind funding.