Catholic schools across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands will benefit from extra funding and more resources after the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and the Australian Government reached an historic agreement on the Better Schools Plan.

Federal Member for Throsby Stephen Jones welcomed the announcement that will see around $1.6 billion in additional funding flow through to Catholic systemic schools across Australia, including the 10 systemic schools in the Throsby electorate over six years.

This funding means that on average, every Catholic school in the region will receive an extra $1.5 million or $4,000 per student over six years to better resource teachers and help lift schooling standards, said Jones.

That will happen through things like better vocational training, more special needs teachers, assistive technologies for children with disability and the extension of sports, music and arts programs.

Labors Better Schools Plan will mean more individual attention for students who need it most and for those kids doing well, it will provide more opportunities to excel.

It will also empower local principals to make more decisions about their own schools.

In stark contrast, under Tony Abbott every school in every state and every sector stand to lose millions as he wont commit to fixing a broken system, said Jones.

While the Coaliton continue their same old negativity, the Australian Labor Government is working to ensure no Australian students are left behind.

Our Plan for Better Schools is not just an investment in schools, this is a down payment on the long-term strength of the Australian economy, and will underwrite higher productively for decades to come.

This can only be achieved by working together with Catholic schools.