With the federal election now officially set for May 3, Independent Schools Australia (ISA) CEO Graham Catt says one thing is clear: for the hundreds of thousands of families who send their children to Independent schools, school choice is on the ballot.
Representing more than 716,000 students and a national community of 2.5 million voters, ISA is urging all parties to commit to policies that protect choice and support students and families, not punish them.
“This election will be full of political analysis and partisan debate. But for Independent school families, it is personal,” said Mr Catt.
“Parents are working extra hours, cutting back on essentials, and doing whatever it takes to keep their child in the school that’s right for them. What they want is fairness. What they deserve is respect, not policies that make life harder.”
Recent polling by Insightfully shows:
- 26% of Independent school parents are cutting back on essentials like groceries, medicine and transport to afford school fees
- 78% say they would have to seriously adjust their household budget if fees increased
- Nearly half (46%) would be less likely to vote for a party that have policies that force fees up for Independent school families
“This idea that Independent schools are only for the wealthy is simply wrong,” he said.
“More than 60% of our families are from low- to middle-income households. These are everyday Australians making extraordinary sacrifices for their kids.”
ISA’s School Choice Counts campaign, launched earlier this year, calls on all sides of politics to back five key policies that reflect the lived reality of families and support Australia’s diverse, growing education system:
- School Choice Counts – Five Key Priorities
- Protecting Family Choice – stable, predictable funding to keep fees affordable
- Ending the Blame Game – stop dividing sectors and support every student
- Supporting our most Vulnerable Students – fair funding for students with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and those in Special Assistance Schools
- Investing in Cross-Sector Innovation – a $50 million fund to scale what works in student wellbeing and learning across all school sectors
- Building Choice into the Future – increased capital funding and support for schools in growing or regional communities
Independent school students on average receive $10,000 less per student in government funding than public schools, due to a model that adjusts funding based on a family’s capacity to contribute. Among those students include:
- Over 157,000 students with disability
- More than 19,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Over 15,500 students in Special Assistance Schools
- And 140,000+ students in regional and remote areas
“No family should be punished for making the best choice for their child’s education. That’s what this campaign is about.”
“This election, families will be asking their politicians to make a choice: to stand with them, support their child’s education and end the divisive rhetoric about school funding – or to make it even harder financially and let the blame games continue.,” Mr Catt said.
The full campaign and toolkit for parents, schools and supporters is available at:
🔗 schoolchoicecounts.isa.edu.au
About Independent Schools Australia
Independent Schools Australia (ISA) represents the national interests of the Independent school sector. ISA works closely with member associations to advocate for choice, diversity, and fair funding—ensuring that all Australian families have access to high-quality education that meets their children’s needs.