The Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (the BFSA) is a joint agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories to help create a better and fairer education system for all students.
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The BFSA commences on 1 January 2025 and replaces the current National School Reform Agreement which will expire on 31 December 2024. It will run for 10 years from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2034.
The BFSA will ensure all public schools in jurisdictions party to the agreement will receive full and fair funding over the life of the agreement and put every public school on a path to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). The BFSA aims to improve education outcomes for all Australian students and build on the capability and capacity of the education workforce. It outlines a set of reforms in areas where national collaboration will have the greatest impact on driving improved student outcomes.
Through the BFSA, all parties commit to targeted reforms focused on 3 priority areas:
- equity and excellence
- wellbeing for learning and engagement
- a strong and sustainable workforce.
The BFSA contains 10 National Reform Directions which support the achievement of these 3 priority areas. The National Reform Directions align with key elements of quality schooling and will support all students to reach their educational potential.
The BFSA has been informed by several inputs including the findings and recommendations of:
- the Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System
- the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National School Reform Agreement.
The BFSA has been developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and peak bodies. This engagement has been essential in recognising the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledge and honours the Australian Government’s commitments to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. It has also been developed in collaboration with non-government education representatives.
Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (Heads of Agreement)
The following states and territories have signed on to the BFSA Heads of Agreement.
- Northern Territory – signed 31 July 2024
- Western Australia – signed 3 September 2024
- Tasmania – signed 25 September 2024
- Australian Capital Territory – signed 7 November 2024
National Enabling Initiatives
National Enabling Initiatives are specific activities that require collaboration between all governments to be achieved. National Enabling Initiatives will enable governments to effectively implement future reform efforts and system-level improvements.
There are 5 National Enabling Initiatives in the BFSA:
- Review of the Schooling Resource Standard base and loadings calculation methodology.
- Implementation of the Unique Student Identifier for school students.
- Undertake collective work to better understand and provide advice to Education Ministers on:
- socioeconomic diversity, its impact on schools and student learning and approaches to addressing these impacts.
- school attendance, its impact on learning and mechanisms to advance evidence-based approaches to addressing non-attendance, including school refusal.
- Review of the Measurement Framework for Schooling in Australia.
- Development of an early years of schooling numeracy check.
Each National Enabling Initiative will have a Project Plan. These plans will be available on this page once developed and endorsed by Education Ministers.
Bilateral Agreements under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement
States and territories are also required to have a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth, that sets out state and territory-specific actions to improve student outcomes. Bilateral agreements include activities that support priority equity cohorts such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students in regional, rural and remote areas, students with disability and students from a low SES background.
- Northern Territory – signed 31 July 2024
- Western Australia – signed 3 September 2024
- Tasmania – signed 30 October 2024
- Australian Capital Territory – signed 19 November 2024
Bilateral agreements outline minimum state and territory school funding contribution shares as a condition of receiving Australian Government school funding. Reporting guidance has been developed to assist states and territories to report on their funding contributions.
Interim School Funding Agreement 2025
The Interim School Funding Agreement 2025 (Interim Agreement) is an interim agreement which operates for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.
The Interim Agreement shares the same objectives and outcomes as the BFSA and focuses on the 3 priority areas agreed by Education Ministers in December 2023. It maintains the existing Commonwealth funding arrangements agreed under the National School Reform Agreement but contains national policies and priorities that are consistent with the BFSA.
State and territory parties to the Interim Agreement are below:
- Victoria
- New South Wales
- South Australia
- Queensland
Each jurisdiction that is party to the Interim Agreement has entered into a bilateral agreement with the Commonwealth that sets out state-specific actions and reporting aligned to the National Reform Directions in the Interim Agreement.
Bilateral Agreements are included at the links below:
Negotiations will continue in 2025 with the state and territory parties to the Interim Agreement to determine the funding arrangements that will be in place after the Interim Agreement expires on 31 December 2025.