The Victorian Student Representative Council welcomes the State Government’s $400 payment boost to camps, sport and excursion fund for state school students. However, we urge the Victorian Government to stick to their commitment in achieving the full funding requirements set out in the schooling resource standards as soon as possible to ensure Victorian students aren’t left behind in the long term.
We urge the Victorian Government to stick to their commitment in achieving the full funding requirements set out in the schooling resource standards as soon as possible to ensure Victorian students aren’t left behind in the long term.
This funding boost comes after reports that the Victorian government pushed back its promise to reach 75% of the Schooling Resource Standard from 2028 to 2031, leading to a reported $2.4 billion shortfall for public schools.
In January 2025, the federal government and the Victorian state government came to an agreement that the federal government will increase its funding from 20% to 25%, if Victoria maintains “at least 75 percent of the SRS for its public schools … by 2034” according to Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. VicSRC called this a win in January, however noted that the wait will mean students currently enrolled in school will not see the benefits of this funding.
As it stands, other states will achieve full funding for their schools by 2028. By delaying Victoria’s funding by an additional six years, a whole generation of secondary school students will be left behind the rest of the country.
While we note that Premier Jacinta Allan says the reports that funding has been removed are “incorrect” as the government will increase funding towards capital school works by $17 billion, Victorian students and their families need more than new schools and one-off cost of living relief.
The additional funding for schools and families are welcome and wanted, but it is crucial for the budget to prioritise long term structural change. Students and schools of today are currently not receiving the funding to address issues like the teacher shortage, mental health and wellbeing, and investing in an accessible and equitable education system.
The additional funding for schools and families are welcome and wanted, but it is crucial for the budget to prioritise long term structural change.
Oskar (he/him), a year 9 student and VicSRC Executive Committee member, calls this potential delay a “serious setback” for what would be a “historic step forward”.
“If the government delays full implementation of the funding agreement by three years, it means that no student currently in Victoria’s public primary or secondary schools will ever experience the full benefits of a fully funded education system”.
VicSRC’s CEO Julia Baron (she/her) says students can’t afford to keep waiting. “The Gonski report was handed down in 2011. If full funding is delayed again, that’s 23 years of students missing out on the support they need. The recent boost for camps, sports and excursions is welcome, but it’s not a substitute for real, structural change. Every other state and territory have acted. It’s unacceptable that the so-called ‘Education State’ is coming last. We’ll be watching the state budget closely to see whether students are finally being taken seriously”.
It’s unacceptable that the so-called ‘Education State’ is coming last.
Ivy (she/her), a year 10 student and VicSRC’s Executive Committee Secretary, wants to see all students benefit from full funding.
"Students today deserve to see the benefits of a fully funded education, and not just promises for the future. The government must ensure no Victorian student is left behind while the rest of the country moves forward."
