School principals are having to resort to organising fundraiser's, in order to raise money for basic classroom equipment.
The survey of almost 1,400 public school principals has found most are forced to use donations from parents to buy staples such as text books.
The survey also found the majority don’t have enough money to repair crumbling infrastructure.
Leumeah High School principal Helen McMahon says her school is without an assembly hall, running hot water or air conditioning.
“It is very very difficult for children to learn… when it’s extremely hot in summer, and extremely cold in winter.”
The Australian Education Union has launched a new advertising campaign, urging parents to work with teachers, to lobby the government for more money.