We’re committed to ensuring all Australians receive the highest quality of education possible at all levels of schooling. The following announcements demonstrate how the Australian Government is currently improving the standard of education being delivered to Australian students.

We have a proven track record of providing increased funding for Australian public and private school sectors, and investing in the quality of education for Australian students. Our Government is committed to ensuring that every child gets a quality education no matter where they go to school. Funding for SA schools has increased to a record $1.8 billion in 2021/22, up from $1.6 billion in 2020/21 – a 64% increase since the Government came to office in 2013.

Schools

Capital Grants Program Funding for Prescott Primary Northern Students

In November, I represented the Australian Government at the official opening of Prescott Primary Northern’s new North Wing Building, partly funded through the Government’s Capital Grants Program. The Morrison Government delivered $540,000 for the $1.466 million project through the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure.

Touring the new building, I witnessed students and staff taking advantage of the new custom designed learning spaces. The building includes 3 general learning areas with learning preparation area, surrounding verandahs and entry canopies that allow for flexible learning with areas that can open into adjoining spaces.

For more information, click here. For more information about the Capital Grants Program, click here.

A Voice For Young People On Online Safety

In 2022, a national Online Safety Youth Advisory Council – comprising of 20 Australians between 13 and 24 years – is to be inaugurated to provide a voice to Government on issues faced by young people regarding online safety. Participants from a wide range of backgrounds will engage in forums and report to Government with recommendations for industry, government, regulators, and more – promoting young Australians’ participation and ownership of solutions to the multifaceted problems posed by our digital age.

For more information, click here.

Childcare/Early Learning

Removal of the Child Care Subsidy Annual Cap

The Morrison Government continues to support families with young children as they balance parenting with their work lives. In December 2021, the $10,655 annual Child Care Subsidy (CCS) cap was scrapped and applied retrospectively for the full 2021/22 financial year. As of 7 March 2022, around 250,000 Australian families will benefit from increased CCS – four months earlier than expected – saving families an average of $2,200 per year. These increases follow the passage of legislation in August 2021, enabling increased flexibility and savings.

For more information, click here.

To view vacancies and compare childcare services available in your area, visit Starting Blocks – a new online platform initiated by the Morrison Government to assist families.

Commonwealth Agreement Secures $113 Million In Ongoing Preschool Funding for SA

Expected to benefit around 80,000 South Australian children in their year before school, the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments have reached a preschool funding agreement confirming up to $113 million in Commonwealth funding from 2022 to 2025.

Linked to improvements in preschool participation and outcomes measures, this funding will ensure South Australia continues give children the head-start they need for school in one of their most formative years, regardless of what preschool they attend.

For more information, click here.

Tertiary

Graduate Employment Increases Despite COVID-19 Impacts

At the close of 2021, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) data indicated the rate of university graduates securing full-time employment increased to 68.9 percent in 2021, from 68.7 percent in 2020. Amidst challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this increase is positive news which demonstrates the resilience and flexibility of Australia’s job market, and quality of Australian tertiary education system.

The degrees ranking highest for employment outcomes included Pharmacy, Engineering and Teacher Education.

Federal university funding is set to grow from $18 billion in 2020 to $20 billion by 2024.

For more information, click here.

Support For Country Students and Regional Universities

This year, regional and remote students intending to relocate for tertiary study are eligible for extended support through the Tertiary Access Payment – a payment of either up to $3,000 or $5,000, depending on individual circumstances. Following its successful introduction last year, the TAP continues to help country Australians meet their study and relocation costs. For more information, click here.

Alongside support through the TAP, Round 3 of our Destination Australia Program is to provide $6 million in scholarships for regional university campuses – encouraging students to study rural, and to support the growth of regional areas. For more information, click here.

Training and Skills

Record Number of Apprentices and VET Funding

A study by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research of Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) funding through 2020 has found the Morrison Government provided the vast majority of the increase to funding across the skills and training sector, including TAFE – to $3.83 billion in 2020 (excluding loans) from $2.65 billion in 2019, an increase of $1.18 billion or 44.7 per cent.

Record levels of financial support for VET and upskilling has led to the delivery of the highest number of trade apprentices on record – 217,400 in July 2021.

The Government is also spending $8 million to run more Job Fairs across Australia, connecting job seekers with employers looking for staff.

For more information, click here.

University Research

$74 Million for 16 Research Hubs and Training Centres

The Morrison Government is investing $74 million to open 16 new research hubs and training centres around the country, as part of the commitment to commercialising Australian research, under the Industrial Transformation Research Program.

For more information, click here.

$2 Billion Invested in Australian University Research

Australia’s new $1.6 billion Economic Accelerator (AEA) will harness world-leading research and collaboration to create globally competitive businesses that advance the commercialisation of manufacturing in one of the six identified national manufacturing priority areas – the priorities of the Morrison Government’s Manufacturing Modernisation Strategy.

The AEA is realigning research funding to emphasise projects with high potential for commercialisation that are directed at National Manufacturing Priorities and industry engagement – bringing the country’s brightest business and academic minds together.

For further information on the creative arts scholarships, click here.

Trailblazing Universities Shortlisted

The $242.7 million Trailblazer Universities Program was launched in November 2021 – which has now shortlisted a select group of eight university proposals across Australia to compete for their share of the funding. This funding includes $8 million to finance specialist support from the CSIRO as they facilitate research commercialisation efforts across Australia’s manufacturing priority areas.

The University of Adelaide is among these eight shortlisted applicants, with their project named Defence Trailblazer for Concept to Sovereign Capability.

For more information, click here.

Australian Universities and Industry Working Together to Solve Global Challenges

In mid 2021, 67 new research projects were awarded through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme. SA’s Flinders University was among several grant recipients in the Linkage Projects’ latest round, receiving $659,669 to develop new technologies to capitalise on the $80 million global e-waste industry.

The Morrison Government is investing $31.7 million to fund these projects.

For more information, click here.

International students

Making it Easier for International Students to Enrol in Australian Courses

The Morrison Government has committed more than $17 million over two years to simplify international student information across over 1,200 education providers, saving the sector up to $10 million each year in regulatory compliance costs and streamlining international student enrolments. For more information, click here.

This initiative follows the release of the Morrison Government’s new 10-year strategy for international education – as international travel re-opens – to ensure the sector remains cost-effective and continues to provide a high quality education for all students. More information on this new strategy, the Australian Strategy for International Education 2021-2030, can be found here.

University Sector to Withstand Foreign Interference and Protect Free Speech

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment have released updated guidelines for the university sector to support the strengthening of universities’ capabilities in addressing threats of espionage and foreign interference. As universities anticipate the imminent return of international students, the Morrison Government is prioritising the resilience of universities to potential threats and ensuring universities’ intelligence and democratic governance is protected as they embody the Australian way of life.

In a similar vein, an official free speech code has been adopted by all 41 Australian universities to protect academic freedoms on campus, aligning with the model recommended by the Hon Robert French AC. For more information, click here.