- Cook Labor
Government to invest a record $8.9 billion in education and WA schools in 2026‑27
- $2.1 billion to be
invested in new schools, upgraded facilities, and improvements over the
next four years
- $89.5 million for a new 2026 round of the WA
Student Assistance Payment
- $39.9 million from
the Public Education Endowment Trust to support education maintenance and
minor works projects
- $15.7 million for a new Disability and Inclusion Professional
Learning Hub and $310.1 million in increased support for students with
disability
- $7.7 million to further strengthen swimming and water safety
education
- $4.6 million extension of WA ClassmAIte AI pilot to reduce teacher
workloads
The Cook Labor Government will continue its strong investment in
educational outcomes and school infrastructure, boosting funding for new
schools and upgrades, additional support for school-based staff, and learning
opportunities for young Western Australians in this year's State Budget.
In 2026-27, the Cook Labor Government will invest a
record $8.1 billion to continue delivering high-quality education and $810
million in education infrastructure. Overall, the 2026-27 Budget commits $1.7 billion
to school education, continuing the delivery of key election commitments and
improving outcomes for WA students.
Over the next four years, the Cook Labor Government will invest more
than $2.1 billion in school infrastructure, to provide the best possible
learning environments for students across the State.
This investment will support new schools, infrastructure upgrades and
maintenance, including:
- $400 million
to boost school maintenance and improvements, including $86.9 million to
deliver the final tranches of the Cool the Schools program and minor works
election commitments;
- $96.2
million to expand capacity at four schools;
- $78.2
million to deliver major upgrades at six schools;
- $68.4
million for land and early works for the new Alkimos North Senior High School;
- $66.9
million for additional classroom capacity in public schools; and
- an allocation of $5
million over 2026-27 to 2027-28 from the Climate Action Fund towards the Schools
Clean Energy Technology Fund.
To support the investment in education maintenance and improvements, $39.9
million has been provisioned from the Public Education Endowment Trust, with
release of these funds subject to the passage of the Public Education Endowment
Repeal Bill 2025 through State Parliament.
These significant investments will mean that, between now and 2030, this
State Government will open 11 new primary schools and two new high schools.
Since 2017-18, the State Government has opened 30 new primary schools
and eight new secondary schools, with investment in school infrastructure
estimated to total $6.4 billion investment out to 2029-30.
This State Budget also builds on the Cook
Labor Government's provision of significant cost-of- living relief for Western
Australian families, with a new $89.5 million round of the successful Western
Australian Student Assistance Payment set to provide $150 for every primary and
kindergarten-aged student, and $250 for each secondary school student.
This State Budget also continues the Cook Labor
Government's commitment to supporting
students with additional needs in our schools and providing them with
opportunities to learn, contribute, and participate.
An additional $310.1 million has been committed over the forward estimates to support students with disability.
In a WA-first, $15.7 million will be provided to
establish a new Disability and Inclusion Professional Learning Hub to improve
disability support training for WA educators and school staff.
The State Budget also features $23.5 million additional
investment towards support and wellbeing initiatives for Western Australian
students, including students with English as an additional language or dialect,
Aboriginal students, and specialist schools.
A further $6.5 million from Royalties for Regions will extend
the delivery of the Kimberley Schools Project, supporting principals and
teachers to deliver education tailored to the specific needs of students in the
Kimberley region.
The Cook Labor Government is also providing
an additional $7.7 million to further strengthen delivery of high-quality
swimming and water safety programs across the State and continue building WA's
swimming instructor workforce.
To complement this, a $600,000 trial will be
set up - in collaboration with Royal Life Saving Society WA - to make three
more public school pools available for community use and swimming and water
safety programs.
An
additional WA Certificate of Education pathway will also be developed for
priority students to provide them with greater learning opportunities, with $6.9
million allocated.
The 2026-27 Budget will also continue
to support initiatives to reduce
teacher
workload, with $4.6 million invested to
continue the WA ClassmAIte generative AI platform pilot.
A total of $33.2 million will go towards supporting
non-government schools, in line with the State's commitments under the Better and
Fairer Schools Agreement.
For more information, visit ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My government is
prioritising quality services for all Western Australians.
"That way, we can support
a high quality of life for all Western Australians, no matter where they live.
"That's exactly what this
Budget will deliver for WA.
"Our responsible Budget
management has kept WA's economy the strongest in the nation so we can continue
investing in education and early childhood development."
Comments attributed to Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to investing in WA's incredible
public schools, education workforce, and young people.
"Our investment in school infrastructure in this year's State Budget
builds on our significant work to not only cater for growing communities but
improve existing facilities in our older schools as well.
"We are also committed to supporting our dedicated teachers, education
assistants and principals, with $15.7 million for a new Disability and
Inclusion Professional Learning Hub to deliver high-quality training and help
drive better outcomes for every student.
"Our public schools are at the heart of their communities, and these
investments will help deliver the right conditions for WA school students to
thrive, no matter where they live."
