Claims by the Australian Education Union that existing resources are being redirected to fund the Tasmanian Government’s new safeguarding children initiative are wrong.
Our Government is providing additional resourcing to schools to support specific safeguarding actions, actions recommended by the Department of Education Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
This initiative is supported by our continued growth in funding for Tasmanian education.
The reality is the Government is investing a record amount of education funding in the 2022-23 State Budget – $8.5 billion over the Forward Estimates.
Overall funding provided to schools continues to increase year on year, with the Tasmanian Government continuing to meet the commitment of an additional $340 million to State Schools over 10 years (2018 to 2027) through the National School Reform Agreement with the Australian Government.
The Agreement will see an additional $490 million of State and Australian Government funding pass to Tasmanian Government Schools over 10 years (2018 to 2027).
Keeping Tasmanians safe is the highest priority for the Tasmanian Government and this starts with safeguarding the rights of all children and young people to have an education, to be heard, and to be kept safe from harm.
We have recognised that schools need to be supported to take on increased accountabilities and have allocated this additional funding to ensure they have the resources needed to continue this important work.
The initiative includes:
We are committed to providing our students with the tools they need to support their education and development, giving them the best possible start in life.
The 2022-23 State Budget is delivering for all Tasmanians.
More Media Releases from Roger Jaensch
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education, Children and Youth