The department continues to shape Queensland's future by delivering quality early childhood and care services, a high-performing education system which prepares every student for a bright future by equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need and supporting a vibrant arts and culture sector across the state.
In 2024–25, the department achieved an operating surplus of $169.620 million, or 1.2% against a total departmental controlled budget of $14.044 billion. Key investments and initiatives included:
- continuing free kindergarten for all eligible 4-year-old children of up to 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year to relieve cost of living pressures for Queensland families, improve educational outcomes and support labour market participation
- finalising delivery of more than 6,100 new teachers and more than 1,100 new teacher aides over 4 years and continuing to undertake initiatives, such as Turn to Teaching and Trade to Teach Internships, to attract and retain the teaching workforce
- delivering and maintaining cultural assets including the new theatre at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, increasing the state's capacity to present high quality cultural experiences
- commencing delivery of the state's commitment under the new 10-year Better and Fairer Schools Agreement—Full and Fair Funding.
The department's material financial statement balances reflect our large school land and buildings portfolio across 1,266 state schools, and payment of salaries for over 78,000 full-time equivalent (FTE). Supplies and services expenses were predominantly represented by curriculum resources and school operating expenditure, as well as utility costs and the maintenance and upkeep of our large asset base on school sites.
In accordance with section 77(2)(b) of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld), I have provided the Director-General with a statement regarding the financial internal controls of the department, in line with section 54 of the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 (Qld). As the Chief Finance Officer, I have therefore fulfilled the minimum responsibilities as required by section 77(1)(b) of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld).
Duncan Anson
GAICD, FCPA, B Bus
Chief Finance Officer
Financial summary
The following financial summary provides an overview of the department's financial results for 2024–25. For a comprehensive set of financial statements covering all aspects of the department's activities, see the financial statements section of this annual report. No totals have been adjusted for commercial-in-confidence requirements.
Controlled financial performance
The department recorded an operating surplus of $169.620 million for 2024–25. Table 2 summarises the financial results of the department's operations for the last 3 years.
Table 2: Summary of financial performance
| Income | 12,174,102 | 12,982,581 | 13,986,979 |
| Expenses | 12,029,441 | 12,859,590 | 13,817,359 |
|
Operating surplus/deficit |
144,661 |
122,991 |
169,620 |
Income
Income for our controlled operations totalled $13.987 billion, an increase of $1.004 billion from last year.
Departmental controlled services revenue (appropriation) was $13.234 billion, an increase of $1.050 billion from last year. This was largely due to additional funding for a range of school education related initiatives, election commitments, enterprise bargaining outcomes, increased funding to support kindergartens, funding to meet additional depreciation expenditure, as well as increased Commonwealth Government funding under the previous National School Reform Agreement and associated Bilateral Agreement.
Figure 1: Controlled income 2024–25
| Appropriation revenue | 94.62 | 13,234,304 |
| User charges and fees | 3.86 | 539,918 |
| Grants and other contributions | 0.63 | 88,342 |
| Other | 0.89 | 124,415 |
|
Total | |
13,986,979 |