A new Ministerial Schools Funding Reference Group has been established to provide advice to the Gillard Government on the next stages of school funding reform.

School Education Minister Peter Garrett said the Reference Group will work with all Governments and key stakeholders to consider the recommendations of the Review of Funding for Schooling report, which was released last month.

The Reference Group includes representatives from each of the education sectors, parent and principals’ associations, indigenous and disability groups, and the education unions.  A full list of the membership is attached.

Mr Garrett said the Reference Group will examine a wide range of issues raised by the review panel’s report, including

• the targeting of public funding for schooling according to socio-economic status (SES), both for the proposed low SES loading and the anticipated capacity to pay measure proposed to apply to non-government schools
• funding arrangements for Indigenous students, students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency
• the proposed loadings relating to school size and location
• the technical validation and data requirements of the proposed new Schooling Resource Standard funding model
• capital arrangements
• philanthropy
• funding governance issues. 

“This Reference Group will be an important forum for the education community to bring forward their views on school funding, and the particular issues raised by the Gonski Review,” Mr Garrett said.

“As the review panel acknowledged, we have a lot of work ahead of us to test and refine the various elements of the proposed new funding system. This work is now underway.

“Members will play a pivotal role in advising the Government on the development of new funding arrangements, including the recommended loadings to provide extra funding for students facing disadvantage.”

The Reference Group will provide a forum for stakeholders to share information and commission new work, in addition to receiving regular briefings and input from four working groups of technical experts and other peak body representatives, to be established through the existing strategic policy working group of education authorities.

Two working groups will look at the funding necessary to improve the results of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and students with disabilities.

A third group will look at data and modelling across all areas of a new funding model, and the fourth will deal with issues of capital.

Mr Garrett said the Reference Group will meet every month until the end of 2012, with the first meeting taking place in March.

“I look forward to working with education stakeholders on the Reference Group to deliver improvements for Australian students,” Mr Garrett said. 

More information on school funding reforms is available at www.schoolfunding.gov.au

Ministerial Schools Funding Reference Group

Chair

The Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth

Membership

Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education

State and Territory education ministers or their representatives

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Secretary – Lisa Paul 

National Catholic Education Commission Chair – Therese Temby

Independent Schools Council of Australia Executive Director – Bill Daniels

Australian Education Union President – Angelo Gavrielatos

Independent Education Union Federal Secretary – Chris Watt

Australian Primary Principals Association President – Norm Hart

Australian Secondary Principals Association President – Sheree Vertigan

Association of Heads of Independent Schools Australia National Chair – Andrew Barr

Catholic Secondary Principals Association President – Daryl Hanly

Australian Council of State School Organisations President – Peter Garrigan

Australian Parents Council President – Caz Bosch

First Peoples Advisory Group Chair – Paul Hughes

National People with Disabilities and Carers Council Chair – Rhonda Galbally