Australia’s education system is the foundation of its democratic and social fabric, however studies have shown that our school system is one of the most unequal among OECD nations, with student outcomes closely tied to socioeconomic status.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often attend under-resourced schools, while wealthier students benefit from better facilities and more experienced teachers. Experts have warned that this disparity is perpetuating cycles of disadvantage and undermining the principle of equal opportunity.
Between August and September 2025, Mark Morris – the Toowoomba-based founder of Fair School Australia and Schools Gender Equality Agency (SGEA) – independently designed and ran a national survey to gauge public opinion on school funding and equity.
The survey drew 170 responses (and hundreds more online) nationwide, mostly from parents, teachers and academics, with the largest share from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
The resulting study, titled ‘Fed Up’: Public Sentiment on the Australian School System – A Call to Action on Equity, Funding and Reform, reveals significant dissatisfaction with the current structure, particularly regarding equity, funding, and the privileges afforded to private schools.
Australians call time on inequity
Overall, 88% of survey responses indicate an urgent call to action for systemic change toward a more equitable future for all Australians, while a striking 92% do not believe the Australian school system is fair and equitable.
The survey also revealed widespread opposition to the privileged status of private schools. More than nine in ten (93%) rejected the notion that private schools should be recognised as charities, while two-thirds (66%) said they should not receive taxpayer funding at all.
Support for prioritising public education was near universal. An overwhelming 95% per cent of respondents said funding of public schools should take precedence over private schools, reflecting growing pressure on governments to address decades of underfunding in the public sector.
At the heart of these responses is a powerful statement about national identity. Nearly all (97%) of Australians said values of equity, fairness and inclusion should apply across all schools, pointing to a strong appetite for reform that ensures every child – regardless of background – has access to a quality education.
In a result likely to stir debate, the survey also found the country almost evenly split on whether private schools should exist at all. Just over half (51%) of respondents said Australia should not have private schools, highlighting the intensity of the discussion around educational privilege and choice.
‘Principals shouldn’t accept the status quo’
Morris said ‘Fed Up’ was his attempt at a play on words in relation to the Federal (Fed) Government’s role in driving national system equity, while also reflecting the dissatisfaction reflected in the survey responses.
When asked what the survey’s results say about the role that principals can play in shaping the national conversation about equity and fairness in education, Morris said they “shouldn’t simply accept the status quo because it has been a certain way or because change is hard.”
“Principals can use their voice and positional influence to agitate by calling for action to unions, principals’ associations, members of parliament, while also helping to educate communities on the reality of the current systemic inequity,” Morris told The Educator.
“Principals can collaborate to agitate and catalyse action within their networks because larger group numbers can make influencing change easier. Previous initiatives that focused only on funding, fail to address the systemic inequity fuelled by a foundation of unfair governance; a system that enables societal segregation.”
Equity needs courage, not more research
Morris acknowledged the survey’s limitations but said the equity case is already well-evidenced, adding that what’s needed now from school leaders is “courage and action.”
“There is a legacy of relying on research and evidence to convince political leaders to change, and there is a legacy of this expert advice being ignored,” he said. “Australia is a democracy, so highlighting that the majority of the population has an appetite for systemic fairness could help to catalyse change.”
For statistical significance, a similar survey would require at least 385 responses to draw more confident inferences, Morris said.
“Data should include responses across the Australian population.”