National Inquiry into Public School Infrastructure

The AEU has launched Australia’s first national inquiry into public school infrastructure, hoping to ensure every child learns in a safe, modern and inclusive public school.

The inquiry, chaired by former AEU and ACTU President Sharan Burrow AC, will examine the current state of public school infrastructure across Australia, assess future needs and recommend long-term funding and policy reforms to deliver future-ready schools in every community.

While we have a national framework for recurrent school funding, there is no equivalent national strategy for public school infrastructure and no permanent Commonwealth capital funding stream.

The Commonwealth abandoned capital works funding in 2017, so states and territories are going it alone. Investing in public school infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to lift outcomes and strengthen equity across the system.

More than 2.6 million students attend Australia’s public schools. Enrolments have grown significantly over the past decade and population projections point to continued growth in school-age children. Student needs are becoming more complex, with rising numbers of students requiring additional learning, wellbeing and disability supports.

“Teachers are delivering extraordinary work with increasingly diverse and complex student needs. They deserve state of the art facilities that complement the high-quality teaching they provide,” AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said.

“Improved capital works are not just about buildings. It’s about inclusion, wellbeing and opportunity. If governments are serious about improving student educational outcomes, then investing in infrastructure must be on their agenda.

“This inquiry will gather the evidence of unmet needs across Australia. We want to ensure every child, no matter their postcode, has access to high-quality learning environments that support their success,” Ms Haythorpe said.

The inquiry will consult widely with principals, teachers, education support staff, families, governments and community organisations. It will also engage with groups representing Aboriginal communities and Torres Strait Islander communities, students with disability, and rural and remote Australians.

Ms Haythorpe said the launch in Adelaide signals the start of a constructive national conversation.

“This is a nation-building project. It’s about planning not just for the next budget cycle, but for the next generation. Investing in public school infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to lift outcomes and strengthen equity across the system.”