Public school funding boost should be focused on areas of greatest need

Peak NSW social services body NCOSS has welcomed Commonwealth funding for public for schools but called on the NSW Government to ensure the money flows to schools dealing with rising concentrations of disadvantage.

Addressing the SMH Schools Summit in Sydney today, NCOSS CEO Cara Varian said that the funds should be part of an immediate response to new research showing a dramatic rise in the number of schools where more than half the student population lies in the bottom quartile.

Ms Varian said participation in high-quality, inclusive education is one of the most effective ways to prevent or lower the impacts of poverty and other forms of disadvantage.

“Without adequate funding, disadvantaged children in the public system are at risk of falling through the growing cracks in inequality, not just in NSW but across Australia.

“One-in-six children in Australia currently live in poverty, and this disadvantage is substantially concentrated in our public schools.

“We know public schools are educating the vast majority of students with higher needs- including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, rural and remote areas, students with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students,” Ms Varian said.

The transformative impact of early intervention in disadvantaged schools has been highlighted in an NCOSS Impact Report released today into the ‘Mirrung’ (belonging) project at Ashcroft Public school.

While the project is still in the implementation phase, Ms Varian said it is already showing positive signs in a number of areas.

“Since starting ‘Mirrung’ in 2022, we have already seen a significant improvement in school attendance and overall, the school’s performance is trending up.

“Early intervention in both learning and health challenges has also led to improvements in student and family well-being while the school community has become active and engaged, helping to make a material difference in the lives of students.”

NCOSS previously urged both state and federal governments to work together to solve the funding gap, following concerns many children from low socio-economic areas were being left behind.

Media contact: Maria Kelly, 0432 049 039 or Bron Matherson 0438 844 765