AHISA SUBMISSION
Senator Bridget McKenzie
Chair, Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee
25 May 2017

Inquiry into the Australian Education Amendment Bill

The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA) gives in principle support to the new federal schools funding arrangements as outlined in the Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017.
In particular:
   • AHISA commends the Government for its commitment to significant additional investment in Australian school education over the next decade and its continued support of Australia’s non-government schools.
   • AHISA commends the Government for introducing greater equity and transparency into its funding arrangements for Australian schools and, specifically, greater consistency in the allocation of funding within and between non-government school sectors. We believe this is a move to greater coherence in public policy relating to the federal funding of schools.

AHISA recognises that the proposed new funding arrangements will create some disruption to the financial planning of most independent schools, especially in the near term, including unexpected reductions in federal funding. This disruption is detailed by the Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA) in its submission to the inquiry. AHISA therefore commends the Government for its proposal of a minimum 3.0 per cent annual indexation rate for the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) from 2021 as providing some stability and predictability to offset this disruption.

AHISA acknowledges ISCA for its analysis of the available funding data for independent schools and its detailed response to the Bill as set out in its submission to the inquiry. AHISA supports ISCA’s submission.

On the following pages AHISA presents some additional points for consideration by the inquiry, including our concerns regarding public debate about the changes to general recurrent funding for non-government schools as set out in the Bill.

Yours faithfully,
(Mrs) Karen Spiller
AHISA National Chair
Principal of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Qld

Inquiry into the Australian Education Amendment Bill - full version