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NGO leaders congratulate Premier Napthine, urge others to step up

07 August 2013

NGO Leaders for Educational Opportunity congratulates Premier Denis Napthine on committing to sign up to the Better Schools plan and implement a fairer funding model for all young Victorians.

NGO Leaders for Educational Opportunity, comprising leading non-government organisations, has been urging all COAG members to put aside political differences and deliver on school funding reform.

"Premier Napthine should be applauded for putting the needs of young people first," said The Hon. Verity Firth, CEO of the Public Education Foundation. "The remaining states need to step up and implement a needs based funding model."

"Australia is very close to having a fairer, needs-based school funding model," said Ricky Campbell-Allen, Director of the Centre for New Public Education. "I urge Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory to join the rest of our states and territories, and the Independent and Catholic sectors, and fulfil their shared commitment to supporting all young Australians to reach their full potential."

"The decision by the Victorian Government, as well as the Federal Coalition's commitment to match the Commonwealth Government's funding for four years, shows that governments do recognise needs based funding as the fairest way to fund all schools," continued Ms Campbell-Allen.

"An effective school funding system is the first step towards delivering a world class education for all young people," said Dr Lisa O'Brien, CEO of The Smith Family.

"Currently, significant numbers of young Australians, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are not achieving key educational outcomes. This has to change in the interests of Australia's current and future prosperity," continued Dr O'Brien.

The group, which includes representatives from the Foundation for Young Australians' Centre for New Public Education, Anglicare Australia, The Smith Family, Mission Australia, Brotherhood of St Laurence, UnitingCare Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, ACOSS and the Public Education Foundation, congratulates Premier Napthine for his foresight and leadership

Media contacts:

Andrew Dickson | National Media Manager (National) - 0421 285 529 | andrew.dickson@thesmithfamily.com.au
Carla Horton | Senior Media Advisor (QLD & WA) - 0423 618 776 | carla.horton@thesmithfamily.com.au
Reid Jermyn | Media Advisor (VIC, SA & NT) - 0412 803 566 | reid.jermyn@thesmithfamily.com.au
Ben Chenoweth | Senior Media Advisor (NSW, ACT & TAS) - 0413 346 934 | ben.chenoweth@thesmithfamily.com.au

The Smith Family is a national children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power of education. We partner with around 800 Australian schools and work with over 162,000 children and young people experiencing disadvantage access our education support programs to help them overcome . For more information, visit thesmithfamily.com.au