Government Schools in Australia - Market Research Report

Cool under pressure: Revenue growth remains strong despite disruptions to schooling

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.

The Government Schools industry has experienced modest revenue growth over the past few years. Ongoing population growth, including an expansion of the population aged between 5 and 18, has fuelled demand for public schools and kept revenue on the rise. Government funding has also been stable for government school; state and territory government funding makes up most funding for public schools, alongside some Federal Government funding. Donations and fundraising activities account for the remainder. Long-term climbs in household discretionary incomes have facilitated more donations from the community; however, the trend has also prompted a shift towards private education. Many parents perceive private schools as being higher-quality than government schools, partly because of marketing efforts to boost their reputation. As incomes have risen, parents have been sending their children to private schools, which has created competitive conditions for government schools. Public schools have also faced staff shortages, as teachers seek work at private schools in order to receive higher salaries. Overall, revenue is expected to climb at an annualised 1.1% to $64.3 billion over the five years through 2022-23. This trend includes a lift of 1.9% anticipated in the current year, due to continued population expansion and a short-term drop in discretionary incomes. The industry consists of government-administered schools that provide primary, secondary or combined education. While some government schools charge voluntary fees to families, schools cannot deny access to students if a family is unable to pay the fees.