Campaigning for equity in education

08 September 2025

At the heart of the AEU’s campaigning for public education is a simple but powerful belief: every child, in every school, in every community, deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive and succeed, no matter their postcode, background or family circumstance.

That is why campaigning for full funding for preschool, schools and TAFE is one of the AEU’s most important tasks. Because until public education is fully and fairly funded, with the education workforce supported, every student seen and valued, and high-quality teaching and learning facilities delivered, then Australia as a nation cannot fulfil the Prime Minister’s vision of “no one held back” and “no one left behind”.

The recent federal election was a pivot point for public education. With the re-election of the Albanese government, there is an opportunity now to build upon the foundational work achieved during Albanese’s first term.

AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe says it is important not be complacent: “The first term of the Albanese government saw meaningful progress on core education priorities. From Early Childhood Education and Care investment and reform, the delivery of Free TAFE and bilateral agreements signed between governments that ensure that all public schools are funded to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard.”

School Funding

It is expected the bilateral school funding agreements between the Commonwealth and states will be released in July or August. The AEU will review these agreements to ensure they meet the needs of public schools, now and in the future. Full funding will be life-changing for students and schools, but we have a responsibility now to ensure that funding gets to those students who need extra help right now.

While ensuring public schools achieve 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) is a key priority of the AEU, ensuring the SRS loadings meet the requirements of students is also a necessity.

“There is a body of work which must be done by governments with the SRS loadings so that they are fit for purpose and provide schools with the funding needed to address the additional needs that many students require,” Haythorpe says.

She says the SRS loadings are designed to reflect the increased investment needed to provide teaching and learning support for students who experience disadvantage or compound disadvantage.

“A review of the SRS offers an opportunity to deliver more funding to meet the needs of Aboriginal students and Torres Strait Islander students and communities, along with students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds, students with disability, students whose first languages is not English and students who live in regional and remote locations,” says Haythorpe.

“Funding loadings must reflect the realities of compounded disadvantage, systemic inequality, and the need for targeted, long-term investment in culturally appropriate education programs.”

Teachers must also be supported to teach with cultural respect and competence. This includes high-quality, ongoing professional learning in cultural responsiveness, truth-telling, local histories, and trauma-informed practices.

Haythorpe says the AEU will have a renewed campaign focus on capital investment, particularly in rural and remote schools, which have some of the most urgent infrastructure needs.

“Every child deserves state-of-the-art learning facilities, and increased capital investment in public schooling is vital to achieving equity in our education system,” Haythorpe says.

“We must ensure that every child has access to safe, modern and well-equipped facilities, no matter where they live, or their personal circumstances.

“Delivering high-quality facilities is important for the teaching profession. It enables a broad, rich curriculum to be delivered for students with access to modern equipment and buildings.”

The government must also do more to address workforce shortages, both in regional and remote areas, and across the country generally. The AEU has welcomed the news that education ministers around the country have agreed to convene a roundtable focusing on the teaching profession and workforce issues.

With the foundations installed by the first term of the Albanese government, now is the time to campaign vigorously to hold the federal government to its promises, and to push for a world-class, fully funded public education system for all students, in all communities.

“AEU members have shown what can be achieved when we unite, organise and demand better,” Haythorpe says.

“We will continue to advocate for full funding of public education, and we know that we have an amazing community of supporters and members who will once again join us in fighting for preschools, schools and TAFE.”

This article was originally published in the Australian Educator, Winter 2025