Trevor Cobbold – Page 3

Australia Has Amongst the Highest Teacher Shortages in the OECD

Trevor Cobbold / October 21, 2025 / Teachers

A new OECD report reveals thatAustralia’s education system is facing a diabolical staffing crisis. Since 2018, teacher shortages have soared leaving Australia among the worst-performing nations in the OECD on this measure. Despite the scale of the problem, little meaningful action has been taken to reverse the trend.

The lack of qualified educators is most acute in public schools, disadvantaged schools and schools in regional towns. There is also a very large shortage of special education teachers. Among OECD countries, Australia records the largest shortage of staff in disadvantaged and regional town schools, and the second largest in public schools.

Schools Agreement Fails to Fully Fund Tasmanian Public Schools

Trevor Cobbold / October 12, 2025 / Funding

The claims by the Federal and Tasmanian education ministers that Tasmanian public schools will be fully funded by 2034 are a blatant lie. The new school funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Government will not set public schools are not on the path to full funding as government media releases say.

Despite a substantial and very welcome boost in funding, Tasmanian public schools will remain underfunded in 2034, 23 years after the Gonski Report recommended full funding. Public schools will remain massively underfunded in every year until 2034. It is a shameful neglect of the challenges facing public schools and the learning needs of disadvantaged students, the large majority of whom attend public schools.

South Australian Public Schools Get Funding Boost But Remain Underfunded

Trevor Cobbold / October 8, 2025 / Funding

The claims by the Prime Minister, the South Australian Premier and education ministers that South Australian public schools will be fully funded by 2034 are a blatant lie. The new school funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the South Australian Government will not set public schools are not on the path to full funding as government media releases say.

Despite a substantial and very welcome boost in funding, South Australian public schools will remain underfunded in 2034, 23 years after the Gonski Report recommended full funding. Public schools will remain very underfunded each year until 2034. It is a shameful neglect of the challenges facing public schools and the learning needs of disadvantaged students, the large majority of whom attend public schools.

Western Australian Public Schools Denied Full Funding by Schools Agreement

Trevor Cobbold / October 8, 2025October 8, 2025 / Funding

The claims by the Federal Education Minister and the Western Australian Premier that WA public schools will be fully funded by 2034 are a blatant falsehood. The new school funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the Western Australian Government will not set public schools are not on the path to full funding as government media releases say.

Despite a substantial and very welcome boost in funding, Western Australian public schools will remain underfunded in 2034, 23 years after the Gonski Report recommended full funding. Public schools will remain massively underfunded in every year until 2034. It is a shameful neglect of the challenges facing public schools and the learning needs of disadvantaged students, the large majority of whom attend public schools.

Queensland Public Schools to Remain Underfunded Despite Funding Boost

Trevor Cobbold / October 6, 2025October 8, 2025 / Funding

The claims by the Prime Minister, the Queensland Premier and their education ministers that Queensland public schools will be fully funded by 2034 are a blatant falsehood. The new school funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the Queensland Government will not set public schools are not on the path to full funding as government media releases say.

Despite a substantial and very welcome boost in funding, Queensland public schools will remain underfunded in 2034, 23 years after the Gonski Report recommended full funding. Public schools will remain massively underfunded in every year until 2034. It is a shameful neglect of the challenges facing public schools and the learning needs of disadvantaged students, the large majority of whom attend public schools.

NSW School Funding Agreement Leaves Public Schools Underfunded

Trevor Cobbold / October 4, 2025 / Funding

The claims by the Prime Minister, the NSW Premier and their education ministers that NSW public schools will be fully funded by 2034 are a blatant falsehood. The new school funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the NSW Government will not set public schools are not on the path to full funding as government media releases say.

Despite a substantial and very welcome boost in funding, NSW public schools will remain underfunded in 2034, 23 years after the Gonski Report recommended full funding. Public schools will remain massively underfunded in every year until 2034. It is a shameful neglect of the challenges facing public schools and the learning needs of disadvantaged students, the large majority of whom attend public schools.

New Schools Agreements Show Public Schools Will Remain Underfunded in 2034

Trevor Cobbold / October 1, 2025October 2, 2025 / Funding

The claim by the Prime Minister, Premiers and their education ministers that public schools will be fully funded by 2034 is a blatant lie. The new school funding agreements between the Commonwealth and the states have not set public schools are not on the path to full funding as government media releases say.

Despite a substantial and very welcome boost in funding, public schools will remain underfunded in 2034, 23 years after the Gonski Report recommended full funding. Public schools will remain massively underfunded in each year until 2034. It is a shameful neglect of the challenges facing public schools and the learning needs of disadvantaged students, the large majority of whom attend public schools.

New NAPLAN Results Demand More Immediate Funding Increases for Public Schools

Trevor Cobbold / September 3, 2025 / Equity in education, Funding

The latest NAPLAN results reveal the enormity of the challenges facing Australia’s school system. They show vast achievement gaps between rich and poor, a huge proportion of equity group cohorts not achieving national proficiency standards and a very large proportion in need of additional support in their learning. Unfortunately, the education equity targets and new funding agreements between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments provide little prospect that the gaps can be reduced. Urgent action is needed to ensure that public schools are fully funded in the near future.

15 Richest SA Private Schools Rake in Over $30 Million in Non-Fee Income

Trevor Cobbold / June 29, 2025 / Funding

New figures obtained from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission show that 15 private schools serving the richest families in South Australia collected over $30 million from donations, investments and other income in 2023. Shockingly, this money is ignored by governments when determining taxpayer funding of these schools. It is a fundamental flaw in how the Commonwealth Government funds rich, exclusive private schools. . It means they are being over-funded compared to public and other private schools that do not have such privileged income streams. It is an inequity that must be ended.

Financial statements and reports lodged with the Charities Commission show that 15 schools with a median adjusted taxable family income of over $200,000 a year received $31.4 million in 2023 from donations, investments and other income, such as from rental properties, hire of facilities and sale of assets. They received $9.7 million in donations, $3.4 million as investment income and $18.3 million in other income. Of the 15 schools, three received $15.5 million from these sources. These 15 schools got $127.6 million in government funding in 2023.

20 Richest WA Private Schools Rake in Nearly $50 Million in Non-Fee Income

Trevor Cobbold / June 29, 2025June 29, 2025 / Funding

New figures obtained from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission show that 20 private schools serving the richest families in Western Australia raked in nearly $50 million in 2023 from donations, investment income and other income. Shockingly, this money is ignored by governments in determining taxpayer funding of these schools. It is a fundamental flaw in how the Commonwealth Government funds rich, exclusive private schools. It means they are being over-funded compared to public and other private schools that do not have such privileged income streams. It is an inequity that must be ended.

Financial statements and reports lodged with the Charities Commission show that 20 schools with a median adjusted taxable family income of over $200,00 a year received $46.5 million in 2023 from donations, investment income and other income, such as from rental properties, hire of facilities and sale of assets. They received $14.6 million in donations, $8.4 million as investment income and $22.6 million in other income. Of the 20 schools, six received $31 million from these sources. These 20 schools got $218 million in government funding in 2023.