CHOOSE
EDUCATION
Our education system is broken.
You can't fix a broken system with the
same people who broke it.
THE CRISIS
IN NUMBERS
Our public schools are underfunded, our kids are falling behind, and both major parties have let it happen. The evidence is damning.
of public schools don't have enough money to meet basic student needs
kids from poorer families fall this far behind by Year 9, performing at Year 5 levels
public school funding shortfall 2024 to 2028.
every public school student is underfunded by this amount, every year
worst in the OECD for school segregation by wealth, and getting worse
until public school kids receive full funding for school under ALP and never under Libs.
This isn't about left or right.
It's about right and wrong.
Education Breaks
The Poverty Cycle
Education is the most powerful tool we have to break the cycle of poverty. When kids get a quality education, they're six times more likely to reach the top 10% of earners. Underfunding public schools doesn't just fail today's students; it locks in inequality for the next generation.
Australia's
Two-Tier System
Australia has one of the highest rates of private school enrolment in the OECD and one of the most heavily publicly funded non-government school sectors. While spending 28.6% less on public schools.
Public Schools Serve
Those Who Need Most
Public schools educate 80% of disadvantaged students, including kids with disabilities and those from low-income families. Yet, Victoria has the worst-resourced public schools in the country, underfunded by $1.8 billion in 2024 alone.
Victoria's
Shameful Record
The biggest per-student funding gap in the country is right here in Victoria: $7,282 per student.
WHAT I
STAND FOR
As a Community Independent standing in Western
Victoria, this is what I stand for.
FULL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND IMPROVED TEACHING CONDITIONS NOW
Every public school should receive 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard today. Not in 2034. Not phased in over another decade. Every child deserves a fully funded education now. Teachers need much better pay and working conditions.
EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHING
Smaller class sizes, supported teachers, and a curriculum shaped by education experts. Education policy should be guided by evidence, not ideology, lobbyists, political cycles, or special interests.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR ALL
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Students with disabilities, First Nations students, rural and regional students, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds must receive the support and resources they need to succeed.
EQUAL RULES.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.
All schools receiving public funding should be subject to the same standards, reporting requirements, transparency obligations, and accountability measures.
Public schools should also have access to the same opportunities currently available to independent schools, including tax benefits, scholarship programs, fundraising opportunities, advocacy support, and representation in decision-making processes.
A STRONGER VOICE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
For decades, taxpayers have funded a powerful network of peak bodies and advocacy organisations representing the private school sector. Meanwhile, the voices of public school students, families, and communities have been underfunded and overlooked.
I will advocate for dedicated funding for independent public school advocacy organisations representing students, parents, and communities. Public school voices deserve a seat at the table.
INDEPENDENT REPRESENTATION FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Public school students and parents should have independent representation on education boards, advisory councils, and government decision-making bodies.
Those affected by education policy should help shape it. Representation should come from students, families, and communities, not exclusively from government-appointed representatives.
FULL TRANSPARENCY
Victorians deserve to know where every education dollar goes.
This includes transparent reporting on school funding, infrastructure investment, university participation rates, tax concessions, grants, contracts, advocacy funding, peak body funding, and educational outcomes. The public has a right to see how resources are distributed across the education system.
COMPETITIVE GRANTS. NO SPECIAL TREATMENT.
All education grants should be awarded through transparent, competitive, merit-based processes.
No preferential treatment. No closed-door deals. No taxpayer-funded lobbying.
TACKLING EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY
Australia's education system is becoming increasingly divided by wealth.
I will support an independent inquiry into the relationship between education and economic inequality in Australia, including the impacts of school funding arrangements, school zoning, selective entry programs, university access, housing affordability, and social mobility. Every child deserves a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of their postcode or family income.
END THE BULLYING CRISIS
Australia has one of the highest rates of school bullying among OECD nations.
I will establish a national review into bullying, school refusal, student mental health, online harms, disability discrimination, and the safety of students in our schools. Every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported when they walk through the school gates.
About
Aleta
My name is Aleta and I'm running as an independent candidate for Western Victoria because both major parties have failed our kids.
My mother was a refugee. I was raised to believe that education was a privilege and an opportunity, and I seized it with both hands. I worked my way through the public education system, completed TAFE, finished university while working, and went on to Cambridge. I am now completing my PhD.
Both Labor and the Coalition have spent decades letting public schools, the backbone of our education system, fall further behind. This isn't about ideology. It's about justice. Every child deserves a quality education, no matter their background.
If you can’t vote for me, please contact your candidates and ask them when they will be fully funding schools so children get what they need.
The housing cost premium to get into one of the zones, top performing public schools. Effectively locking poorer people out of both the public and the private system
The number of years that Australia’s education results have been declining.
Australia has one of the most segregated education systems in the OECD – segregated by class.
Australia asks families to pay far more towards school education than almost any other developed country: private spending on school education is 0.6% of GDP, the second-highest out of the OECD countries.
Australian 15-year-olds face the second highest level of bullying among 24 high-performing comparison OECD countries, trailing only Latvia.
Australia has one of the lowest shares of public funding for schools out of all developed countries: public funding makes up 83.9% of school expenditure, ranking Australia poorly, 36th out of 40 countries.
Private school fees are rising much faster than inflation. AFR analysis reported average fee increases of about 7% in 2026, more than double general inflation.
Victorian public schools are effectively underfunded by about $3,200 per student once the accounting “allowances” are removed (SOS Australia).
Did You Know?
The facts about Australia's education crisis that both major parties would rather you didn't read.
per year, what Australian families pay on average for high school. That's four times the OECD average, making Australia the most expensive place, on average, to send a child to high school. And to access well-resourced public schools, families face house price premiums of $600K in Melbourne.
gap in outcomes for Indigenous students, the worst in the developed world compared to USA, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand. Indigenous students are 6+ years behind in reading, 7 years in science, and twice as likely to fail proficiency benchmarks.
students are failing basic literacy and numeracy. Year 9 kids from poorer families perform at Year 5 levels. These gaps are growing, not closing, under the current system both major parties have maintained for decades.
The biggest per-student funding gap in the country is in Victoria. Australian families foot more of the school bill than almost any other developed country. While the OECD average for household contributions to school funding is around 9–10%, Australian families contribute over 20% — more than double the norm, and exceeded only by Hungary and Türkiye.
Do our petition that will go to both State and Federal decision makers.
Use your vote
I have developed a petition calling for full funding and fairness for every child in every public school. The petition will be presented to both State and Federal decision-makers. But a petition alone is not enough. Sign the petition. Share it with your family, friends and community. Contact your local candidates and ask them one simple question: "What year will you fully fund every public school?" Then use your vote to support candidates who are prepared to act, like me, or others who will fight for full funding now. Our children only get one chance at an education. They should not have to wait another decade for governments to deliver the funding they need and deserve.
Take
Action
The community independent movement is powered by people like you. Here's how to get involved.
Share Your Story
Tell us how underfunding has affected your school, your child, or your community. Make a photo or video and tag us in #ChooseEducation.
Donate
No corporate donations. This campaign runs on small contributions from people like you. Every dollar helps us reach more voters.
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Volunteer
Organise events in your community. Help with the campaign and developing materials.
Sign the Petition
Tell us what matters most to you about education in Victoria. Your input shapes our platform and strengthens our campaign.