Decades of underfunding across Australia has produced one of the most privatised and inequitable school systems in the world, and Queensland State Schools are some of the most underfunded in the country.
As a Greens MP, I’m fighting for truly free and well-funded childcare, kindy, state schools & TAFE, including public school excursion and technology costs. You can find more about the Greens’ plan for public education here.
Fully funding state schools
State governments are meant to contribute 80% of state school funding, with the rest from the Federal government. But the Queensland Labor goverment is contributing just 69.26% to the Schooling Resource Standard, leaving a shortfall of funding for state schools of nearly two billion dollars every year.
Even in Maiwar, where we have some brilliant schools, our local school funding falls well short of the recommended minimum:
Annual funding shortfalls for Maiwar state schools
🍏Indooroopilly State High School - $3,773,426
🍏Indooroopilly State School - $1,878,969
🍏Bardon State School - $521,137
🍏Fig Tree Pocket State School - $765,348
🍏Ironside State School - $1,572,987
🍏Milton State School - $1,026,286
🍏Rainworth State School - $897,043
🍏Toowong State School - $751,417
This means fewer teachers, fewer resources for kids and more out-of-pocket expenses for families. My Greens colleagues and I are lobbying for at least the needs-based minimums to be met, and for support to stop schools from charging parents for out-of-pocket expenses like uniforms, laptops and excursions.
School overcrowding
In 2020, I led the successful community campaign for a new primary school in the inner west - you can find more information on the new school and sign up for updates here.
Since then, I’ve been working with P&Cs and parents to advocate for new facilities in existing schools, and have secured additional buildings and land for expansion as a result of this advocacy. But overcrowding is still a growing problem at local schools, especially ISHS. You can find more information on my campaign for new buildings at ISHS here.
Getting to school safely
I’ve heard from lots of parents who would love for their kids to walk, ride, or get public transport to school but don’t because it’s too dangerous, too expensive, or too inconvenient. Some schools need better footpaths, others needing more crossings or bike lanes, and some need better buses. Since being elected, I’ve worked with our local school communities to proactively identify opportunities for improvement, and successfully advocated for things like more bus services, safe separated bike lanes, and pedestrian crossings. You can find more information and take action on some of these campaigns here.
Free school meals
Australian trials of free healthy breakfast programs show they can substantially increase children’s attendance, grades, mood, concentration,and ability to learn and socialise. While Foodbank provides free school breakfasts at some schools, and Greens MPs run their own community meal initiatives across Queensland, in the long term I’m pushing for the Government to fund a free meals program at every state school.
Grants, sponsorships and other support
I regularly provide raffle prizes, grants and event equipment and sponsorships for local school P&Cs and student initiatives. Please contact my office at [email protected] if I can help.
I’ve also created a small grants program for school-aged kids with a great idea for their school or local community, like native bee hives, recycling programs, support for neurodiverse students or street libraries. Find out more about my Maiwarriors grants here.