Today's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook update confirms the vital role education is playing in Australia's post-pandemic economic recovery and supporting opportunities for all Australians.
Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said the Morrison Government continues to invest in all aspects of education, from the earliest years through to university research and international education.
'Education is a key driver of opportunity for all Australians, and the Government continues to invest in education at all levels - benefiting individuals and growing the economy,' Minister Robert said.
'Today's update confirms more support for quality early childhood education and care, stronger educational outcomes for school students, and measures to support growth and diversification across our higher education, research and international education sectors.'
Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education Senator Bridget McKenzie said ongoing investment in education and child care is critical to supporting growth and development of regional and rural communities.
'The Liberal and Nationals Government understands the importance of providing world leading education to all of our students, regardless of where they live.
'Our Government will continue to invest in education to help meet the needs of our regional communities and support families who call regional and rural Australia home,' Minister McKenzie said.
Key MYEFO measures (including previous announcements)
Early childhood and child care
- $73.9 million to extend the Government's Inclusion Support Program to ensure that more children with additional needs receive the support they need.
- Support for gap fee discounts for early child care educators whose own children are in care and to attract new workers into the sector.
- $287.9 million in fortnightly payments since August 2021 to support eligible child care services affected by COVID-19 lockdowns in Commonwealth declared hotspots.
Schools
- $3 million to develop dual language books and digital resources to support stronger literacy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
- A $126 million package of measures announced in August as part of the Government's Closing the Gap Implementation Plan to improve educational outcomes for thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students.
- Higher Education, Research and International Education
- $242.7 million for the Trailblazer Universities initiative announced by the Prime Minister on 24 November to supercharge research commercialisation in Australia.
- Supporting universities and non-university higher education providers to continue to deliver short courses leading to an Undergraduate Certificate or Graduate Certificate in 2022, using funding allocated for delivery in 2021.
- As part of this rollover of funding, $32.5 million over four years will be re-allocated to develop and pilot microcredentials. This includes $8 million to support industry development of globally relevant microcredentials for delivery offshore.
- $7.2 million in additional regulatory fee relief for higher education providers in the deferral of the HELP annual charge for another 12 months and the waiver of domestic tuition protection service levies for 2021.
- A $37 million package to provide additional support to those international education providers hardest hit by COVID-19, including regulatory fee relief, a 12-month extension of the current FEE-HELP loan fee exemptions until 31 December 2022 and an additional $9.4 million to support a further round of Innovation Development Fund applications next year.
- $17.3 million to streamline the collection of international education student data through the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS). Announced as part of the Australian Strategy for International Education, this will save the sector more than $10 million every year by reducing the double handling of student records.
Higher Education, Research and International Education
- $242.7 million for the Trailblazer Universities initiative announced by the Prime Minister on 24 November to supercharge research commercialisation in Australia.
- Supporting universities and non-university higher education providers to continue to deliver short courses leading to an Undergraduate Certificate or Graduate Certificate in 2022, using funding allocated for delivery in 2021.
- As part of this rollover of funding, $32.5 million over four years will be re-allocated to develop and pilot microcredentials. This includes $8 million to support industry development of globally relevant microcredentials for delivery offshore.
- $7.2 million in additional regulatory fee relief for higher education providers in the deferral of the HELP annual charge for another 12 months and the waiver of domestic tuition protection service levies for 2021.
- A $37 million package to provide additional support to those international education providers hardest hit by COVID-19, including regulatory fee relief, a 12-month extension of the current FEE-HELP loan fee exemptions until 31 December 2022 and an additional $9.4 million to support a further round of Innovation Development Fund applications next year.
- $17.3 million to streamline the collection of international education student data through the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS). Announced as part of the Australian Strategy for International Education, this will save the sector more than $10 million every year by reducing the double handling of student records.
