The Australian Government is committed to working with all states and territories to get public schools on a path to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS)
On 31 July 2024 the Australian and Northern Territory governments signed a Bilateral Agreement as part of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (the Agreement) to increase funding for Northern Territory schools to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) by 2029.
The Australian Government will invest an estimated additional $736.7 million from 2025 to 2029 in Northern Territory public schools as part of this Agreement. As a result, by 2029, the Australian Government will increase its funding share from 20 per cent to 40 per cent of the SRS for public schools, which is contingent on the Northern Territory increasing its funding share for public schools to 60 per cent by 2029.
Additional funding will be tied to reforms in the Agreement, including Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks, targeted and intensive supports such as small group or catch-up tutoring, evidence-based teaching, and the Northern Territory implementing the recommendations of its Review of Effective Enrolment and Review of Secondary Education.
The Northern Territory Government will also increase its funding share to 20 per cent of the SRS for non-government schools by 2029. This will bring these schools to 100 per cent of the SRS on average when combined with the Australian Government’s share of 80 per cent.
To find out more, read Minister Clare’s media releases on the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and the Northern Territory Bilateral Agreement.