The ACT Education Directorate has revealed a significant staffing budget blowout, spending $70 million more than allocated in the 2024-25 financial year. A central driver of this overspend is a dramatic, sustained increase in the number of learning support assistants employed across the territory's public schools.
The Surge in Support Staff
Over the past five years, the cohort of learning support assistants (LSAs) in Canberra's public schools has grown by almost 50 per cent. These vital staff members work alongside classroom teachers, providing additional help that can range from preparing materials and supporting healthcare needs to implementing therapy programs.
Every year since 2020, the number of LSAs has risen. The most substantial jump occurred in 2023, with an increase of 139 staff members. This was followed by rises of 92 and 64 staff in the subsequent two years, respectively.
An Education Directorate spokesperson stated that these assistants are employed "in line with student needs and standard employment processes," highlighting the growing demand for tailored support in classrooms.
An Unsustainable Financial Model
The directorate has historically overspent its staffing budget, with figures ranging between $16 million and $20 million above expectations from the 2018-19 to 2022-23 financial years. However, this trend accelerated sharply recently.
The overspend doubled in the 2023-24 financial year and then doubled again in 2024-25, culminating in the $68.3 million excess. When questioned why the issue wasn't addressed earlier, the directorate explained that central funding was used to cover additional school needs, a model it now admits is "no longer sustainable moving forward."
Independent Review and Government Response
In response to the escalating costs, the ACT government has initiated an independent review into school resourcing. This examination will scrutinise how schools are funded to ensure long-term viability.
The review's findings are scheduled to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly by May 2026, accompanied by an official government response. In the interim, Education Minister Yvette Berry has confirmed that staffing levels for the 2026 school year will remain frozen at 2025 levels while the review is conducted.
"The ACT government recognises schools are catering for increasingly diverse cohorts of students with complex needs," a spokesperson said, emphasising the need for "sustainable resourcing and the right support."
The 'Incalculable' Value of Support Roles
Experts stress the critical importance of learning support assistants in modern classrooms. Paul Kidson, an associate professor at Australian Catholic University and former principal, described their value as "almost incalculable."
He pointed to the high expectations on teachers to modify learning for a diverse range of student needs, a task that becomes immensely demanding in classes of 28 to 30 students. The directorate echoed this, noting that every ACT school has a unique student profile and, therefore, requires a distinct staffing mix to meet local demands.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing essential student support with fiscal responsibility in the public education system.
