I have just exited the Federal Budget lock up – a process where journalists and key stakeholders from across Australia are sequestered in Parliament House with copies of the budget materials prior to their release alongside the Treasurer’s budget speech earlier this evening.
As has been the practice in recent times, major budget announcements tend to be ‘leaked’ or pre-announced in the week leading up to the actual Budget. Taxation policy, cost of living relief, measures to address inflation, global disruption of the US/Iranian war and the management of energy supply chains have all been discussed in ministerial speeches and teased out in the media. With this as the backdrop, the theme this year was clearly fiscal responsibility and sustainability. As indicated by Treasurer Jim Chalmers throughout the budget speech – the focus was a resilient and reforming budget.
In education, the budget held no real surprises. We welcome the government’s ongoing commitment to subsidised, accessible childcare three days a week, safety measures across services and the continuation of funding to build new places for our early learners as announced in last year’s budget.
The ballooning costs of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) have been well publicised, and the emerging Thriving Kids program set to start in full in 2028 for children with mild developmental conditions remains a key issue. How the Thriving Kids program will intersect with schools in the provision and funding of intervention for students who need additional support remains an open question. The NCEC Students with Disability Network Group is keeping a close eye on this evolving program.
This question has been complicated by a significant initiative to increase compliance activities to, as the government outlines, “safeguard investment in schooling, including the integrity of payments for students with a disability in schools.”
We have been working closely with authorities across Australia, conscious that the forward estimates in this year’s budget would extend beyond the current term of the Choice and Affordability Fund (CAF), confirming its expiry in 2029. The CAF is an important component of our funding, and the ongoing support for Catholic schools will be an important part of our negotiations with the government as we head into the next non-government schools funding agreement.
You will note on the website a series of articles that provide a reminder about how school funding works and in particular the role of the government in the funding we receive. This is provided in the context of divisive and, in some instances, misleading commentary about the funding of non-government schools. Within the included article you will see the make-up of Catholic school funding which is essential to our operations. While we never take our funding for granted we are committed to ensuring that the essential service provided by our teachers and staff to families across the country, through mostly low-fee schools, is maintained. Awareness of how our funding works assists us all in this endeavour.
You will also find a piece that looks at how the NCEC, as the national peak body, interacts with the Federal Budget process and links to our 2026-27 pre-budget submission which outlines the position of Catholic education with respect to Commonwealth funding.
The budget process is an important tool of our advocacy role, particularly around Commonwealth funding of non-government schools, and I hope that you find these articles out of the federal budget helpful.
The Hon. Scott Ryan
Executive Director
National Catholic Education Commission
Photo: Scott Ryan with students from St Joseph’s Primary School, O’Connor, ACT.