Department of Education
Queensland Budget 2023-24 · Palaszczuk Government
As at budget day (2023-06-13)
Key service areas
Budget initiatives
15 hours per week of free kindergarten from 1 January 2024 for all 4-year-old Queensland children, across sessional kindergartens and long day care services, removing cost as a barrier to participation.
Families with a 4-year-old can access 15 hours of free kindy each week from January 2024, saving on average around $4,600 a year for a sessional kindy charging $46 a day, while supporting parents to return to work or take on more hours.
General Government operating, $645.4M over 4 years and $189.4M per annum ongoing (indexed)
Funding to deliver critical educational infrastructure for enrolment growth, including a strategic land acquisition fund (Rolling Land Fund) for new schools, another round of school halls and performing arts centres, and additional classrooms in existing schools.
More than $1.2 billion builds new classrooms, school halls and performing arts centres and secures land for future schools in growing communities, including a $968 million Rolling Land Fund.
General Government, total $1.231B over 4 years ($1.727B over 10 years). The $211.9M in 2023-24 combines the operating ($16.785M) and capital ($195.102M) line items. Includes a $968M Rolling Land Fund over 10 years for new school sites.
Funding to address cost escalation in the construction market for the school building program.
Extra funding covers rising construction costs so the school building program can continue delivering new and upgraded facilities despite market pressures.
General Government, total $312.6M over 3 years (operating $43.4M + capital $269.2M). No 2023-24 allocation is shown in BP4; funding begins from 2024-25.
Funding for safe and secure teacher housing in regional and remote communities.
New teacher housing in country towns helps attract and keep teachers in regional and remote schools.
General Government, total $48.3M over 4 years (operating $966,000 + capital $47.3M). The $11M in 2023-24 combines both line items.
Funding for renewal, upgrade and enhancement of critical infrastructure in existing state schools, including tuckshop and playground upgrades and priority flood mitigation works.
Funding renews ageing facilities in existing state schools, including tuckshops, playgrounds and flood mitigation works.
Capital, total $117.4M over 6 years held centrally ($88.4M over 5 years capital + $29M in 2022-23). Budget-year allocation not separately disclosed.
Forward estimates
Year-by-year allocations for 4 measures with published forward profiles.
| Measure | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Kindergarten for 4-Year-Olds | $101.6M | $173.7M | $180.7M | $189.4M | $645.4M |
| School Infrastructure and Land Acquisitions | $211.9M | — | — | — | $211.9M |
| Education Construction Cost Escalation Funding | — | $104.2M | $104.2M | $104.2M | $312.6M |
| Teacher Housing in Regional and Remote Areas | $11M | $11.7M | $12.4M | $13.2M | $48.3M |
| Total | $324.5M | $289.6M | $297.3M | $306.7M | $1.22B |
Performance metrics
Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.
| Metric | Prior target | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
| Proportion of Queensland children enrolled in an early childhood education program | 95% | 99.7% | 95% |
| Government expenditure per child – kindergarten | $4,135 | $3,656 | $5,269 |
| Proportion of Year 12 students awarded a Queensland Certificate of Education or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement | 98% | 98% | 98% |
| Proportion of students who, 6 months after completing Year 12, are participating in education, training or employment | 88% | 88% | 88% |
| Proportion of parents satisfied with their child's school | 94% | 92% | 94% |
| Average cost of service per student — Primary (Prep – Year 6) | $17,188 | $17,168 | $18,581 |
| Average cost of service per student — Secondary (Year 7 – Year 12) | $17,999 | $17,994 | $18,627 |
Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.
Source document
Service Delivery Statement — Department of Education (PDF)Last updated: 2026-06-21. Factual information from published budget documents.