Independent schools derive their income from:

• Fees and fund-raising
• Australian Government grants
• State Government grants.

Funding

There is growing acceptance that the public purse cannot support every societal need and more and more Australians are sharing with governments the cost of education by sending their children to independent schools. Parents are willing to make a significant investment in their children’s education.

In Victoria, the number of children enrolled in independent schools has risen from 77,350 in 1993 to 119,880 in 2008 – an increase of 55 per cent compared with a growth
of 1.75 per cent in government schools over the same time.

In 2006-2007, the Victorian Government provided $5229.5 million of funding in real terms for government school students, and $363.7 million for non-government schools.

The 36.2 per cent of Victorian students enrolled in non-government schools received 6.5 per cent of the total recurrent funding provided by the Victorian government. Each student attending a Victorian government school costs the Australian taxpayer $10,716, compared with just $5816 per non-government school student. The saving to Australian taxpayers is $4900 per Victorian non-government school student – a total of $1.451 billion a year.

Government funding for students at independent schools promotes choice and quality education. Getting the balance right is good for government, Catholic and independent schools and vital for the education of young Australians. This is why governments need to provide the environment that enables the independent sector to thrive.

Facts Figures & Funding

Funding

Funding principles

School & student numbers