← Education
State Deep DiveQLD

Queensland Education

Queensland's education sector includes 1,250+ state schools, 500+ non-state schools, universities, and TAFE Queensland. Significant regional disparity in educational outcomes and access to specialist services.

Education Entities
1,817
Queensland education sector
Federal Contracts
$0
0 contracts
Entity Types
6
distinct categories

ROGS 2026

System Outcomes — Queensland

IndicatorValuePeriod
Attendance rate — Yr 1-10 (%)87.32025
Disability adjustment — extensive (%)2.12024
Disability adjustment — substantial (%)5.42024
Disability adjustment — supplementary (%)11.02024
Participation rate — 15 year olds (%)95.3latest
Participation rate — 16 year olds (%)87.3latest
Participation rate — 17 year olds (%)78.7latest
Primary school enrolments327,9312024
Student-teacher ratio (primary)14.12024
Apparent retention — Year 10 to Year 12 (%)81.22024
Secondary school enrolments238,5872024
Total school enrolments566,5172024
Total government education expenditure ($'000)12,090,9552018-19
VET completion — 15-19 year olds (%)34.42024
Source: Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2026

ACARA MySchool

School Landscape — Queensland

Schools
1,808
Enrolments
900,051
Avg ICSEA
984
National avg: 1,000
Avg Indigenous %
14.6%
Disadvantage Signal251 schools below ICSEA 900 (14% of state) — majority-Indigenous schools avg ICSEA: 758
SectorSchoolsEnrolmentsAvg ICSEA
Government1,257575,262962
Catholic313164,6571029
Independent238160,1321034
Source: ACARA MySchool 2023. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (1,000 = national average).

Entity Type Breakdown

TypeCount
charity1,365
foundation247
indigenous_corp182
company16
social_enterprise6
government_body1

Policy Timeline

Key legislation, inquiries, and reforms

2024
frameworkBetter and Fairer Schools Agreement 2025-2034

New National School Reform Agreement. All public schools to reach 100% SRS by 2034. Bilateral deals with states.

2024
budgetBudget 2024-25: $4.4B education package

Fee-free TAFE extended. University Accord implementation begins. $500M for school infrastructure.

2024
budgetPrep year funding boost — $150M

QLD increases prep year investment. Focus on play-based learning and early literacy/numeracy.

2023
reportUniversities Accord Final Report

Professor Mary O'Kane review. 47 recommendations including needs-based university funding, fee reform, 80% attainment target.

2022
frameworkNational Teacher Workforce Action Plan

Cross-jurisdictional plan to address teacher shortages. Initial teacher education reform, mid-career pathways, workload reduction.

2020
frameworkAlice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration

Joint declaration by all education ministers. Two goals: promoting excellence and equity, becoming confident and creative learners.

2018
reportGonski 2.0: Through Growth to Achievement

Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools. Focus on growth, tailored learning, evidence-based practice.

2017
legislationAustralian Education Act 2013 — Amended (Gonski 2.0)

Quality Schools Package. $23.5B additional over 10 years. Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) as basis for needs-based funding.

2012
reportGonski Review — Review of Funding for Schooling

Landmark review by David Gonski. Recommended needs-based funding model. $5B additional annual investment needed.

Oversight & Accountability

Recommendations from inquiries, audits, and commissions

BodyRecommendationStatus
QLD Auditor-General
Investing in TAFE Queensland
QAO-EDU-1Better align TAFE course offerings with regional workforce needs and skills shortagespending
ANAO
National School Reform Agreement Audit
ANAO-EDU-1Improve bilateral agreement transparency — clarify how SRS targets will be measured and reportedpartially implemented
Gonski Review Panel
Through Growth to Achievement
GONSKI-1Create an online, formative assessment tool that allows teachers to identify individual student needs and tailor teachingpartially implemented
Gonski Review Panel
Through Growth to Achievement
GONSKI-2Revise the Australian Curriculum to focus on development of deep knowledge, skills and understandingimplemented
Productivity Commission
ROGS 2026 — Schools
ROGS-EDU-1Address widening gap in Year 9 NAPLAN results between metropolitan and remote studentspending
Universities Accord
Final Report
UA-1Set a target of 80% of the working-age population to hold a post-school qualification by 2050accepted
Universities Accord
Final Report
UA-2Implement needs-based university funding to replace demand-driven systempending

Cross-System