Department of Education
Queensland Budget 2025-26 · Crisafulli Government
As at budget day (2025-06-10)
Key service areas
Budget initiatives
Queensland's commitment under the new 10-year bilateral agreement to fully and fairly fund state schools for the first time, in partnership with the Australian Government.
Queensland state schools will be fully funded for the first time under a new federal-state agreement. This means schools receive the resources they need based on student needs rather than historical funding formulas.
General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year (MYFER $75M + Post-MYFER $88.7M) within 5-year total ($9.356B over 10 years)
Investment in more teachers, teacher aides and behavioural support specialists in schools, including anti-bullying initiatives and reduced administrative burden for teachers.
More teachers and support staff in classrooms, including 550 additional teacher aides and specialist anti-bullying Rapid Support Squads. The $222.1 million More Teachers, Better Education plan also includes professional development in STEM and inclusive education, and reduces administrative red tape so teachers spend more time teaching.
General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year within 4-year total, plus $48.4M per annum ongoing
$100 per primary school student to support parents, families and carers with the cost of school essentials from the start of the 2026 school year.
Every Queensland primary school family gets $100 per child to help with the cost of excursions, schoolbooks, uniforms and other school essentials. The $188.6 million program over four years starts from the 2026 school year and applies to all students from Prep to Year 6 in state, Catholic and independent schools.
General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year within 4-year total
Planning and construction of new primary schools at Caloundra South (West) and Ripley Valley (White Rock) and new special schools or campuses at Central Logan, Coomera, Springfield/Redbank, Beenleigh, Moreton Bay South and Ipswich West.
New schools in fast-growing areas so children do not have to travel long distances for school. The $814.8 million program over four years includes two new primary schools at Caloundra South and Ripley Valley, six new special schools and campuses at Berrinba, Coomera, Springfield/Redbank, Beenleigh, Moreton Bay South and Ipswich West, a new high school at Gracemere ($100 million) and a Health Sciences Academy in Rockhampton ($95 million).
Capital, total over 4 years held centrally
Continuing Free Kindy and programs that support access to quality early childhood education through inclusion funding, rural and remote assistance, and workforce initiatives.
Free kindergarten for every Queensland child, removing the cost barrier to early education. The government provides $506.5 million for Free Kindy and supporting programs including inclusion funding, rural and remote assistance, and early childhood workforce initiatives.
General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year
Restores the Capital Assistance Supplementary Scheme to assist non-state schools with the cost of building or upgrading educational facilities.
Helps Catholic and independent schools build or upgrade classrooms, halls and other facilities. This ensures non-state school students also benefit from improved learning environments as student populations grow.
General Government operating, 2025-26 budget year only
Restoration of Screen Industry Attraction and Development funding to attract film and television production to Queensland.
Attracts major film and TV productions to Queensland, creating local crew and post-production jobs. The $42 million Screen Industry Attraction and Development program includes $38.2 million in new investment to grow Queensland's screen sector.
General Government operating, $38.2M in new investment in 2025-26 plus $3.8M sourced internally by the department
Forward estimates
Year-by-year allocations for 6 measures with published forward profiles.
| Measure | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (Full and Fair Funding) | $50.0M | $163.7M | $533.6M | $820.6M | $1.204B | $2.77B |
| More Teachers, Better Education | — | $57.4M | $58.8M | $57.5M | $48.4M | $222.1M |
| Back to School Boost | — | $47.1M | $47.1M | $47.1M | $47.2M | $188.6M |
| New School Infrastructure | — | $43.4M | $260.2M | $311.7M | $199.4M | $814.8M |
| Capital Assistance Supplementary Scheme for Non-State Schools | — | $60.0M | — | — | — | $60.0M |
| Screen Industry Attraction and Development | — | $38.2M | — | — | — | $38.2M |
| Total | $50.0M | $409.8M | $899.8M | $1.24B | $1.50B | $4.10B |
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 children enrolled in an early childhood education program — 4 year olds | 97% | 95.1% | 97% |
| Proportion of children developmentally on track on all five Australian Early Development Census domains | 60% | 55.4% | 60% |
| Average cost per child enrolled in an approved kindergarten program | $7,155 | $8,007 | $7,484 |
| Year 3 Test — Proportion of students achieving a proficiency level of Developing, Strong or Exceeding — All students: Reading | 84% | 79.9% | 84% |
| Year 3 Test — All students: Writing | 87% | 85.5% | 87% |
| Year 3 Test — All students: Numeracy | 84% | 84.1% | 85% |
| Year 3 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Reading | 65% | 56.8% | 65% |
| Year 3 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Writing | 69% | 66.9% | 69% |
| Year 3 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Numeracy | 63% | 62.6% | 63% |
| Year 5 Test — All students: Reading | 88% | 84.3% | 88% |
| Year 5 Test — All students: Writing | 83% | 81.7% | 83% |
| Year 5 Test — All students: Numeracy | 85% | 86.1% | 87% |
| Year 5 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Reading | 69% | 61.2% | 69% |
| Year 5 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Writing | 62% | 60.5% | 62% |
| Year 5 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Numeracy | 61% | 62.9% | 63% |
| Year 7 Test — All students: Reading | 84% | 79.5% | 84% |
| Year 7 Test — All students: Writing | 82% | 77.7% | 82% |
| Year 7 Test — All students: Numeracy | 84% | 81.4% | 84% |
| Year 7 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Reading | 64% | 58.4% | 64% |
| Year 7 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Writing | 62% | 56.8% | 62% |
| Year 7 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Numeracy | 63% | 59.0% | 63% |
| Year 9 Test — All students: Reading | 80% | 77.9% | 80% |
| Year 9 Test — All students: Writing | 79% | 75.9% | 79% |
| Year 9 Test — All students: Numeracy | 81% | 78.4% | 81% |
| Year 9 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Reading | 61% | 56.9% | 61% |
| Year 9 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Writing | 58% | 54.4% | 58% |
| Year 9 Test — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Numeracy | 58% | 54.2% | 58% |
| Proportion of Year 12 students awarded Certification | 98% | 99.3% | 98% |
| Proportion of Year 12 students who are completing or have completed a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship or were awarded one or more of: QCE, IBD or VET qualification | 98% | 97.8% | 98% |
| Proportion of students who, 6 months after completing Year 12, are participating in education, training or employment | 88% | 87.1% | 88% |
| Proportion of parents satisfied with their child's school | 94% | 90.8% | 94% |
| Average cost of service per student — School Education | — | New | $25,238 |
| Percentage of grant recipients who are satisfied Arts Queensland investment programs delivered intended objectives | >90% | 96% | 95% |
| Government funding provided direct to arts and cultural sector as a proportion of total investment program budget | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| Utilisation of arts-owned and/or managed arts and cultural facilities | 6.12M visitors | 6.2M visitors | 6.4M visitors |
| Percentage cost of delivering facilities management | 10% | 10.6% | 10.6% |
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: 2026-05-26. Factual information from published budget documents.