Resources

The 2025-26 Department of Education Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) provide information on the proposed allocation of funds to achieve government outcomes. They include budget statements for the department as well as entities working under the portfolio.

The statements provide information to assist parliament to understand the purpose of each outcome. The Education Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) were tabled on 25 March 2025.

The Department of Education’s Evaluation Strategy 2025-2027 provides a high-level framework to support the evaluation of policies, programs, and departmental corporate initiatives. It includes three building blocks: 

• Block 1: Accountability and Governance
• Block 2: Embedding Evaluation in All Stages of the Policy Cycle
• Block 3: Evaluation Maturity and Capability Building.

Together, these building blocks support the increased and more effective use of evaluation within the department to inform our understanding of “what works”. Embedding evaluative thinking throughout the department, and at every stage of the policy cycle, enables the development of future policies and programs which integrate insights and lesson learned.

Public Interest Certificate relating to ATM ESES24/521783.

Public Interest Certificate relating to ATM ESES24/577956.

The Australian Government is replacing the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Activity Test from January 2026 to guarantee at least 3 days of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) each week for children who need it.

The Australian Government will invest $1 billion to establish the Building Early Education Fund (the Fund) to build early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres, including in the regions and outer suburbs. This will give more families access to quality early childhood education and care in areas where it is needed most.

The Australian Government’s Early Education Service Delivery Price (SDP) project will provide a data-driven understanding of the reasonable costs of quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) service delivery.

This is a key part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring Australian families can access universal, affordable ECEC no matter their background or postcode.

The findings from this project will be used to inform future funding reforms.

The Australian Government is investing $3.6 billion for the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Worker Retention Payment to support a 15 per cent wage increase for ECEC workers over two years from December 2024.

Documents detailing the Department of Education’s employee engagement results in the 2024 APS Census.

The 2024 APS Census Action Plan for the Department of Education outlines the priority actions to support a positive workplace culture, effective change management and our authorising environment.

The Australian Government has introduced changes to support a stronger, more independent Australian Research Council.

This Australian Government response responds to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee report: Australian Research Council Amendment (Ensuring Research Independence) Bill 2018.

The Committee’s report was tabled in March 2022 and the Government has noted all recommendations.

The Department of Education 2023–24 Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and the Department of Finance’s Resource Management Guide No.135 – Annual reports for non-corporate Commonwealth entities.