School funding in Australia: A critical policy analysis of school sector influence in the processes of policy production

Abstract

The distribution of government funding for schooling can lead to significant differences in educational opportunities and outcomes for students. Unsurprisingly, school funding policy has been a site of intense political and public debate in many countries. In Australia, the Public, Catholic, and Independent school sectors, which collectively make up the Australian education system, all receive government funding. This article examines the representation and influence of the three school sectors at key moments in the policymaking cycle of the Review of Funding for Schooling, a pivotal 2011 report that shaped the trajectory of school funding policy in Australia. This case study focused on the report's development and found a disproportional representation of the Independent and Catholic school sectors at key points in the Review's policy cycle. In light of this critique, the article includes recommendations for more equitable policymaking processes in the future.