Education and Training: 2007-08 Budget initiatives
Realising our potential – additional support for regional and remote schools
The Australian Government will provide $121.1 million over four years to fund a regional/remote loading in addition to current funding delivered to non-government schools. State and territory governments will be required to provide an equivalent increase in resourcing for regional/remote government schools in 2009-12 schools funding agreement.
This initiative reflects the higher cost of delivering schooling in regional and remote Australia, and will help to improve learning opportunities and outcomes for children in regional and remote schools. The loading will be calculated using Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) classification, with schools in 'Moderately Accessible', 'Remote' and 'Very Remote' areas receiving an additional 5 per cent, 10 per cent, and 20 per cent of their socio-economic status (SES) funding entitlement respectively.
Additional funding will be available from 1 January 2008.
Understanding Money — Building Australia's Financial Literacy
Professional development for teaching financial literacy in schools
The Financial Literacy Foundation is working with all school systems to develop a national approach to providing professional development for teachers who will be teaching financial literacy from 2008 onwards. Funding of $2 million in 2007-08 will be provided to deliver the training to over 1,000 teachers through the Department of Education, Science and Training's Australian Government Quality Teaching Programme. The needs of teachers in rural and remote areas will be specifically considered in developing and implementing the professional development programme.
Extending the Understanding Money campaign
As part of the Australian Government's commitment to lasting generational improvements in financial literacy, $4 million will be provided to the Department of the Treasury in 2007-08 to extend the Understanding Money media campaign. Improved financial literacy will benefit individuals and families, including those in rural and remote areas, by giving them more control over their money and helping them make better financial decisions. Good financial literacy skills also build the capacity of Australians to better understand and manage financial risk, and take advantage of increased competition and choice in Australia's finance sector.
Apprenticeship wage top-up
From 1 July 2007, Australian Apprentices under 30 in trade skill shortages will be able to access a tax free payment of $1,000 per year for the first and second year of their apprenticeship. This recognises the financial burden faced by apprentices during the early years of their training and aims to encourage more young people to enter the trades and complete their qualification.
Apprenticeship training voucher
From 1 July 2007, Australian apprentices in trades in skill shortage will be entitled to a voucher valued at up to $500 to pay their course fees. The voucher will be available in the first and second years of their apprenticeship to encourage them to participate and complete their trade qualification.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – CSIRO
National Research Flagships - Energy and Climate
The Australian Government is providing $103.2 million over four years from 2007-08 to accelerate the national response to the critical and interrelated issues of adapting to climate change, water use management and greenhouse friendly transport fuels. CSIRO will build on the success of the National Research Flagships in the areas of:
- climate change prediction and adaptation (through a new Climate Adaptation Flagship); and
- energy security and reduced greenhouse gas output from alternative transport fuel production (through an expanded Energy Futures Flagship).
National Research Flagships - New Manufacturing And Minerals Industry Development
The Australian Government is providing $70.8 million over four years from 2007-08 to create new opportunities for industry development in Australia through the establishment of two new National Research Flagships in the areas of:
- export-oriented niche manufacturing industries; and
- discovery and sustainable development of major new mineral deposits.
National Bio-Security – Animal Health Laboratory
The Australian Government is providing $16.8 million over four years from 2007-08 to enable the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) at Geelong to:
- respond to demand for greater diagnostic and emergency response capacity;
- implement new security measures;
- maintain engineering and maintenance capabilities; and
- undertake essential Occupational Health & Safety measures.
Australia's Ocean Frontier - Northwest Australia
The Australian Government is providing an additional $5 million over four years commencing in 2007-08 to enable the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to maintain research in Northeast Australia while expanding their research in Northwest Australia in the national priority areas of protection and sustainable development of marine resources, and environmentally sustainable offshore oil and gas development.
The measure would enable AIMS to pursue co-investment opportunities for research with the offshore oil and gas industry in the Northwest while simultaneously addressing industry and public interest research needs in the Great Barrier Reef.
Training initiatives for Indigenous adults in regional and remote communities
The Australian Government is providing $21.4 million for four years starting 2007-08, with $4 million allocated in 2007-08, for training initiatives for Indigenous adults in regional and remote communities. This initiative will increase the effectiveness of Work Skills Vouchers under the Skills for the Future package, in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Work Skills Vouchers will make a substantial contribution to reducing the number of adults aged 25 years and over who have not completed Year 12 and have no post-school qualifications. However, there is a need to provide additional support to ensure that the Vouchers can be used effectively to expand the post-school employment, education and training options for Indigenous Australians, in regional and remote areas. In these areas, there is often limited or no choice in training providers.
It is anticipated that the funding would be used to address the specialist education needs of the clients, higher delivery costs (such as low student numbers), development of courses targeted at local employment needs and, in some cases, inadequate learning facilities.