Record investment in education for young Western Australians

• 2024-25 State Budget includes a total of $6.8 billion for education in 2024-25, an increase of $224 million from 2023-24
• Cook Government to invest a further $410 million in new and upgraded school facilities, boosting investment in Western Australia's school infrastructure to $1.6 billion over the next four years
• Funding for new primary schools for the 2026 and 2027 school years
• $224.3 million investment in increased support for students with disabilities
• $15.6 million boost for Early Years Partnership working with children in the critical early stages of their development

The Cook Labor Government has ramped up its strong investment in better education outcomes and school infrastructure with funding for the education of young Western Australians increased in this year's State Budget.

A total of $6.8 billion has been allocated to school education in 2024-25, an increase of $224 million or 3.6 per cent from the previous year.

Additional funding of $391.3 million has been allocated over 2023-24 to 2027-28 to ensure Western Australian schools will have the necessary teaching staff and resources to accommodate enrolment growth and provide high-quality programs for all students.

Public education funding will continue to increase over the forward estimates to accommodate growth in student enrolments. There were 3,992 more students (1.2 per cent growth) enrolled in public schools in Semester 1, 2024 compared to Semester 1, 2023.

The increased investment for WA public schools includes $224.3 million for individual disability loading allocations, and a further $42.7 million for English as an Additional Language or Dialect loadings to public schools.

School students in isolated, regional and remote locations will benefit from a $10 million funding boost for the School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE).

The Cook Government is committed to providing quality school infrastructure for Western Australian students, and will inject an additional $410 million into new schools and upgrades to support WA's growing suburbs and improve school maintenance across the State. This boosts total investment in school infrastructure to a massive $1.6 billion over the next four years.

An amount of $73.2 million has been allocated to deliver the second stage of Piara Waters Senior High School and increase the school's capacity from 750 to 1,650 students. This new funding will also provide a range of specialist facilities to support a full senior secondary curriculum for the inaugural year 11 cohort for 2027 at the school. There will also be accommodation for 80 students within the education support program.

An additional $28.4 million will be spent on the two new primary schools in Wellard East and Wungong that are planned to open in 2026. This brings the total investment in these new primary schools to $90.8 million.

A $26.5 million double-storey classroom block will be built at Caversham Primary School to replace long-term transportable classrooms.

A total of $21.8 million will go towards relocating the Mount Hawthorn Education Support Centre to Lake Monger Primary School. The new Education Support Centre (ESC) will accommodate 50 students and include classrooms and therapy, sensory, life skills and low-stimulus rooms, teacher preparation rooms and accessible toilets. An early childhood classroom block will also be built at Lake Monger Primary School.

A further $88.4 million has been provided for construction of three new public primary schools in growing areas expected to open for the 2027 school year.

A total of $15 million will be invested to fast-track planning for a new secondary school in the rapidly growing suburb of Brabham, while funding has also been allocated to prepare project definition plans for upgrades to Como Secondary College and Esperance Senior High School.

A $12 million investment in expanded facilities for Highgate Primary School will help to address enrolment growth in the inner-city area, while planning for a new inner-city primary school proposed for East Perth is progressing. The modular building at Highgate will be constructed in parts off site, reducing the amount of on-site construction time and associated disruption to the school. It will be connected to the school's existing two-storey building to enable access via lift and stairway.

Additional funding of $12.3 million will be invested in two new additional Intensive English Centres to help students learn standard Australian English and the skills and understandings they require to be successful.

In addition to these new schools and upgrades, the State Government will also invest an $79.6 million in new transportable buildings, to enable flexible and timely expansion of capacity in public schools.

Major upgrades at Rockingham Senior High School, Rockingham Senior High School Education Support Centre and Safety Bay Senior High School continue thanks to a $100 million commitment.

This is in addition to the Australian Government Schools Upgrade Fund Round 2, which recently allocated $25 million for important upgrades at 13 WA public schools. 

The 2024-25 State Budget also includes $3.3 million to establish a new School of Swimming and Water Safety, to support delivery of high-quality water safety education across WA. This funding will benefit the 250,000 young Western Australians who access school and vacation swimming lessons each year, and also help to improve accessibility to ensure more young people learn how to swim and stay safe around water.

A program delivering better outcomes for children in their formative years will receive a $34.6 million boost, with $15.6 million set aside in the 2024-25 State Budget to support the 10‑year Early Years Partnership working with communities across the State - with the Minderoo Foundation to provide an additional $19 million.

This latest funding injection builds on the State Government's existing $18 million investment in the partnership.

For more information, visit: ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.

Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:

"The Cook Labor Government is committed to ensuring Western Australians are learning in the best possible environments that are modern and inspiring.

"Our continued strong investment in education infrastructure will ensure families now and into the future have high-quality education options throughout the State.

"This increased investment is key to deliver new and expanded primary and secondary schools to keep pace with school enrolments, and support our growing suburbs.

"We also continue to invest in the education of our young people so they can become successful learners and are prepared for jobs of the future."

Comments attributed to Early Childhood Education Minister Sabine Winton:

"I'm sure families with young children will be pleased with the measures we are taking to ensure high-quality learning facilities are being provided.

"We want every student to have the best start at life and providing children and families with access to quality early childhood facilities and education helps support lifelong learning."