Educational Outcomes

In reply to the Hon. S.L. GAME ().4 June 2025).

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): The Minister for Education, Training and Skills has advised:

Since 2022, the Malinauskas Labor government has driven bold reforms to the education, training and skills system. The very intent of these reforms is to increase economic opportunities for all South Australians and to break the cycle of disadvantage many South Australians experience.

We are supporting all young South Australians to participate in education, learn and succeed, and find an educational and career pathway suited to their skills and interests, while also helping employers secure the skilled workforce they need. The government's reform efforts address the critical early years which set young people up for life, through their schooling, into supporting adults to change careers or re-enter the workforce.

These reforms include:

Universal three-year old preschool, commencing from 2026 and 2027 in regional and rural areas, the Greater Adelaide area in 2028 and metropolitan Adelaide in 2029 and 2030. Research tells us that investing in the early years pays the biggest dividends for children and society. More than 90 per cent of a child's brain development occurs before the age of five. There is broad evidence that three- and four-year-olds who attend preschool tend to have better life outcomes.

The introduction of five technical colleges across South Australia, including in Port Augusta and Mt Gambier, supporting young people in our regions. The technical colleges are unique to South Australia, offering hands-on, immersive vocational pathways that lead to guaranteed jobs in in-demand industries such as defence, early childhood education, construction, health, aeroskills, energy and cookery. This is a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to giving pathways to more South Australians, with many students attending who were otherwise at risk of leaving school.

A $2.3 billion National Skills Agreement with investment focused on more training places, improving completions, Closing the Gap, and rebuilding TAFE SA at the centre of the VET system where many students from disadvantaged backgrounds access training. Investment includes a stronger focus on learner wellbeing and completions, rather than focusing solely on commencements, ensuring we can support more South Australians to gain secure, well-paid jobs.

Fee Free TAFE to break down financial barriers that have prevented many South Australians from being able to access training. Over 17,000 South Australians have already accessed Fee Free TAFE. The most recent data shows that the students right across the state are benefitting from the life-changing initiative, particularly those in lower socio-economic areas including Adelaide's northern suburbs. Notably, postcode 5114 (Smithfield, Blakeview, Andrews Farm and Craigmore) is the top area for Fee Free TAFE enrolments, targeting the students we need to reach.

The new Tailored Learning Program, replacing FLO, is delivering major reform focused on supporting disengaged students to re-engage and stay in school. The Malinauskas Labor government is investing $48m to rollout this program, which has seen positive outcomes at schools across South Australia since its introduction.

A refreshed Country Education Strategy, with continued investment supporting more equitable educational opportunities for country students that are not only comparable to those of their metropolitan counterparts, but exemplary in their own right.

Cost-of-living initiatives which support students from lower socio-economic backgrounds fully participate and engage in education. This includes a $200 rebate on the materials and services charge for government school students, free laptops for year 7 and 10 students on School Card, and ensuring that all government schools have access to a breakfast program, with a focus on schools in lower socio-economic communities.

A historic agreement reached for full and fair funding for public education. Announced in January, the agreement will see an increase in state and Australian government public school funding—taking the total increase in funding to $1.25 billion over the next 10 years. The new agreement means more money, more resources and more support will be provided to public schools over the next decade to ensure every child, in every school, has a fair go and a great education.

Since 2022, the government has seen positive signs that outcomes are improving for young people facing disadvantage. These include:

More students in public education are completing their SACE, with results improving year on year. The number of Aboriginal students in government schools completing the SACE has increased from 46 per cent of students in 2022 to 63 per cent of students in 2024. Completion rates for students with disability have also increased over the same period.

Student attendance and engagement are crucial in our system. Our attendance rate improved to 87.2 per cent in 2024, up from 84.8 per cent in 2022.

The mobile phone ban, introduced in early 2023, is positively impacting schools. Data from 2024 shows a:

57.3 per cent decrease in the number of incidents reported about social media issues in 2024 (90) compared to 2023 (211).

37.9 per cent decrease in the number of incidents reported about behaviour issues involving a device in 2024 (103) compared to 2023 (166).

34 per cent decrease in the number of incidents reported about policy compliance issues in 2024 (33) compared to 2023 (50).

There is more to do, but our government is strongly focused on taking the long-term actions to improve the lives of all South Australians.