States Grants (Science Laboratories and Technical Training) Act 1964

25 June 1964

Pointing to a desperate need to improve the quality of Australian schooling, especially in regard to teaching science, the Commonwealth (Australian) Government commenced providing grants to government and non-government schools in 1964. Initially only for science laboratories and equipment for secondary schools, the scheme was expanded to include libraries five years later.

The decision to include non-government schools as part of the States Grants Act was controversial. The vast majority of independent schools were Roman Catholic and the idea of 'state aid' to church schools flared bitter sectarian divisions in Australian society.

The Catholic Church had lobbied throughout the 20th century for government assistance to operate its schools, but without success. By the 1960s their situation was dire. Church schools had old and insufficient buildings, chronically overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of teachers.

To highlight their need and the considerable resources they were saving governments across Australia, in July 1962 all Catholic schools in Goulburn NSW were closed. Nearly 2,000 students then presented for enrolment in the city's government schools which were completely overwhelmed. It only lasted a week, but the point was made.

The 'strike' acted as a catalyst for the adoption of state aid to non-government schools, an innovation in the Australian education system which has endured to this day.