2025 News

Three not-for-profit organisations have been awarded a $1.1 million funding boost to further support and strengthen early childhood education and care services in regional Western Australia.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Funding boost to three regional early childhood education and care services.

The almost-completed first stage of the Roebourne District High School redevelopment is set to open ahead of schedule, as Woodside Energy commits $20 million to support the next phase of construction.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Expanded Roebourne redevelopment to deliver for school students.

The Cook Government will inject $4.7 million into 128 schools with fewer than 100 students across WA, making sure they are not disadvantaged due to their size or location.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Funding boost for public schools with fewer than 100 students.

Students, teachers and school communities can look forward to creative learning experiences coming to their classrooms with a major investment connecting artists and arts organisations to Western Australian schools.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Creative learning experiences coming to WA schools.

The Albanese Labor Government and Cook Labor Government have signed an updated school funding and reform agreement.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Western Australia sign on to new school funding and reform agreement.

Dozens of schools across the State will share in $387,000 in funding towards upgraded bike and scooter parking, installation of bike repair stations and bike tracks, and bike skills and road safety education workshops.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Active travel to school receives major boost with $387,000.

A major milestone in the delivery of an Early Learning and Family Centre in Derby has been reached, with the awarding of a $261,832 grant to the Ngunga Group Womens Aboriginal Corporation.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Early Learning and Family Centre one step closer for Derby families.

Half a million students and more than 62,000 teachers will return to classrooms across Western Australia this week, including at the State's two newest public schools in Eglinton and Brabham.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Schools across WA welcome back close to half a million students.

The Cook Labor Government has launched the Premier's Telethon Challenge encouraging Western Australian school students to engage in philanthropy and help children in need across the State.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Premier launches school student challenge for Telethon.

A successful partnership that benefits students in public schools in the Pilbara will continue for a further four years under a $12 million extended agreement.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Multi-million-dollar boost to extend BHP education partnership in the Pilbara.

The Cook Government has awarded a three-year contract to Starick Services to deliver the Western Australian Respectful Relationships Teaching Support Program, including a new element to develop resources for Catholic and Independent schools.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Starick Services to continue delivery of Respectful Relationships program in WA schools.

The Cook Government has provided $355,665 in funding to extend four established school-based programs helping disadvantaged students develop creative skills through curriculum-based learning experiences.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Funding boost extends school engagement with arts and culture.

Following the success of last year's inaugural school camp program, the Cook Government has announced that it will extend the program in 2025.

For more information, refer to the media statement - WA students to benefit from Rottnest Island school camp subsidy.

Premier Roger Cook and Education Minister Sabine Winton have officially launched the Premier's Reading Challenge for 2025, inviting students to turn the page on a new reading adventure.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Challenge accepted: Premier's Reading Challenge launches for 2025.

The Cook Labor Government's Fee-Free TAFE initiative is going from strength to strength with a surge in enrolments last year helping grow the State's pipeline of construction, care and early childhood education workers.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Future workforce builds with growth in Fee-Free TAFE enrolments.

Western Australian parents and carers with school-aged children are now able to apply for hundreds of dollars in cost-of-living relief to help reduce school expenses, with claims for the 2025 WA Student Assistance Payment open today.

For more information, refer to the media statement - $89 million in cost-of-living student payments now open to WA families.

The Cook Government's commitment to fee-free and low-fee training, combined with its record investment in WA TAFE colleges, is helping hundreds of Kimberley students at North Regional TAFE (NRT's) Broome campus skill up for local job opportunities.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Investment in skills and TAFE building Broome's local workforce.

Applications have opened for the 2025 WA Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) awards, with a new category to spotlight young innovators.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Applications now open for WA Innovators of the Year 2025.

The Cook Government will deliver more support for regional students attending Country Week this year, helping to reduce travel and accommodation costs for families facing cost-of-living pressures.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Country Week assistance to cut costs for regional families in 2025.

The Cook Labor Government is continuing to invest in training the workforce of tomorrow, with $100 million in the 2025-26 State Budget to keep TAFE course fees unchanged in 2026 and $21.9 million to fund more fee-free building and construction courses.

For more information, refer to the media statement - $100 million Budget commitment backs TAFE to deliver a skilled workforce.

The Cook Government is supporting more than 1,100 primary and secondary students to travel to Wadjemup/Rottnest Island for an overnight school camp as part of the school camp subsidy initiative.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Students to enjoy subsidised Rottnest Island school camp.

The Cook Government is delivering funding of $33.8 million to introduce free full-time, school-based kindy, ensuring Western Australian children get the best start to their learning.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Nation-leading boost to kindy access for WA families.

The Cook Government has launched a pilot road safety education program targeting Year 7 and 8 students across regional Western Australia.

For more information, refer to the media statement - New gamified road safety program for regional WA students.

The Cook Labor Government has committed an additional $1.5 billion investment in education in the 2025-26 Budget to commence delivery of election commitments, keep pace with our growing population and improve education outcomes.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Record education investment to help WA students thrive at school.

Western Australian schools are looking forward to sharing their classrooms with some of the State's most creative talent, thanks to an investment from the Cook Government.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Art projects enriching Western Australian schools.

Education Minister Sabine Winton is calling on Western Australian schools to register their interest to get creative Year 8 students involved in the Minister's Innovation Challenge 2025.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Nominations for Minister's Innovation Challenge now open.

Education Minister Sabine Winton has today reminded Western Australian families about two key Cook Government cost-of-living initiatives, as regional students converge on Perth sporting venues for the start of Senior High School Country Week today.

For more information, refer to the media statement - WA school families reminded to access key cost-of-living support.

Education Minister Sabine Winton is calling on all Western Australian students to lace up their running shoes and register for the 2025 Education Minister's Running Challenge.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Students get ready to hit the track for Minister's Running Challenge.

Aboriginal cultural understanding is being embraced in more classrooms across Western Australia, with cultural initiatives receiving support through the Cook Government's Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) program.

For more information, refer to the media statement - PALS program builds deeper cultural understanding in schools.

Public schools and local sporting groups across Western Australia are set to benefit from a $10 million investment by the WA Government, aimed at making community sport more inclusive and accessible - with the first recipients announced.

For more information, refer to the media statement - School's in for community sports across WA.

Additional support for students with complex behaviours will be rolled out across 192 Western Australian public schools, with new Complex Behaviour Support Coordinators to help address the diverse needs of students.

For more information, refer to the media statement - WA schools selected to receive Complex Behaviour Support Coordinators.

Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has today announced the 43 finalists vying for the 2025 WA Training Awards.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Regional talent dominates finalist field for the WA Training Awards.

Students in 350 Western Australian public schools will receive additional targeted literacy and numeracy support, with Small Group Tuition to be rolled out to help address learning gaps of students.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Small group tuition further supporting teachers and students.

Premier Roger Cook and Education Minister Sabine Winton today recognised the efforts of students from across Western Australia who excelled in the 2025 Premier's Reading Challenge.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Chapter closes on successful 2025 Premier's Reading Challenge.

Four Western Australian public schools have been selected for a transformative four-year trial that will connect students and families with greater wellbeing supports and wider health, community and social networks.

For more information, refer to the media statement - New Connected Community School trial to commence in 2026.

The Cook Labor Government today announced the conclusion of its 2025 WA Student Assistance Payment program, which distributed more than $81.4 million in cost-of-living support to school students and their families.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Record number of families receive WA Student Assistance Payment.

The Cook Labor Government has today announced its pilot of free full-time kindergarten will be brought forward to start in 2026, delivering on a significant $33.8 million 2025 election commitment.

For more information, refer to the media statement - Cook Government to fast-track full-time kindy pilot to begin in 2026.