Each year, schools must navigate complex reporting and compliance obligations at the federal and state levels, covering areas such as financial accountability, student data reporting, board governance, child safety compliance, and work health and safety regulations.
School administrators, boards, and leadership teams must ensure they are prepared for key deadlines to maintain compliance, transparency, and good governance.
Failure to meet compliance deadlines can result in penalties, funding implications, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. To help schools plan ahead, we have outlined some key federal reporting and compliance requirements for 2025.
Key federal reporting and compliance obligations
At the national level, non-government schools must meet financial, operational, and governance obligations under Australian Government funding agreements, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), and education regulatory bodies.
| Regulator / Source of Obligation |
Details |
2025 Deadline |
| ACNC |
Schools registered as charities must submit their Annual Information Statement and financial reports. |
Within six months of the end of the reporting period.
Typically, 31 December 2025 (for schools following a standard 1 July to 30 June financial year).
|
|
Australian Government Department of Education – Financial Accountability Reporting
|
Includes the Financial Questionnaire submission for schools receiving Australian Government funding. |
30 June 2025 |
|
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority – My School Data Reporting
|
Schools must verify and submit financial and student data for publication on the My School website. |
2025 student background data collection for independent schools opens 27 February and closes 8 May 2025.
STATS dates for 2025 will be released by the Australian Government Department of Education.
|
|
Workplace Gender Equality Agency Reporting
|
Non-government schools with 100 or more employees must submit gender equality data. |
31 May 2025 |
|
Work Health and Safety (WHS) Compliance
|
Schools must ensure annual WHS compliance, including risk assessments and incident reporting. |
Ongoing – recommended annual review in Term 4. |
State/territory reporting obligations
Each jurisdiction has their own regulatory body that governs non-government school operations and imposes additional reporting obligations on schools. These reporting requirements often include financial reporting, compliance audits, and governance declarations.
For example, in Queensland, schools have various reporting dates to the Non-state Schools Accreditation Board and the Department of Education throughout the year, including schools survey data, enrolment verification and financial data.
Schools should be mindful of these additional obligations and include them in their compliance calendar.
Key governance actions for 2025
To maintain strong governance and compliance, school boards and administrators should follow a structured compliance calendar. We have provided an example Compliance and Reporting Calendar for 2025 below.
Example Compliance and Reporting Calendar for 2025
| Month |
Key Compliance Focus |
| January |
Staff and student onboarding compliance, child safety reviews |
| February |
Term 1 governance meetings, policy updates |
| March |
WHS audits, workplace compliance checks |
| April |
Mid-year risk and compliance review |
| May |
Workplace Gender Equality reporting deadline |
| June |
Financial and governance reporting (state education authorities) |
| July |
Financial accountability reporting (Federal Department of Education) |
| August |
Staff professional development compliance |
| September-October |
Annual policy reviews, strategic planning |
| November |
Governance and board self-assessments |
| December |
ACNC Annual Information Statement deadline, final policy updates |
Final thoughts: Ensuring good governance and compliance in 2025
Strong governance is the foundation of effective school management. Non-government school boards and leadership teams must stay informed about reporting obligations, policy updates, and regulatory changes to ensure compliance.
By planning ahead and using a structured compliance calendar, schools can avoid last-minute compliance risks and focus on delivering high-quality education.
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