The Australian Government provides school infrastructure funding to non-government primary and secondary schools through a funding partnership with state and territory governments and non-government school communities. Australian Government capital grants are supplementary to funds provided by state and territory governments, non-government school authorities and school communities, which have primary responsibility for providing, maintaining and upgrading non-government school facilities.

The Government provides capital grant funding to non-government schools under the Schools Assistance Act 2008. On 21 April 2011, the Australian Government extended the existing capital grant funding arrangements for non-government schools until the end of 2014.

Objectives

The Australian Government seeks to improve learning, and literacy, numeracy and educational attainment for school students, including through funding for quality learning environments.

The specific objectives of the Capital Grants Program for non-government schools are to

• provide and improve school capital infrastructure, particularly for the most educationally disadvantaged students
• ensure attention to refurbishment/upgrading of capital infrastructure for existing students, while making provision for needs arising from new demographic and enrolment trends,  and
• in implementing the above two objectives, also pursue other Australian Government policy priorities and objectives, particularly in relation to school students.

Program Governance Framework

The Capital Grants Program for non-government schools is administered under the following governance framework

1. Schools Assistance Act 2008
2. Schools Assistance Regulations 2009
3. Funding Agreements between the Commonwealth of Australia and Block Grant Authorities (BGAs); Participant Agreements between schools and their BGA; and, where Australian Government capital grants are provided to non-government schools, funding agreements between the school and its BGA.
4. Schools Assistance Act 2008 Administrative Guidelines: Commonwealth Programs for Non-government Schools
5. Administrative Arrangements for Block Grant Authorities
6. Operational procedures.

Funding

Program Year funding is based on a calendar year, and is provided to each sector through the responsible Block Grant Authority.

Contact details for the Capital Grants Program for non-government schools

1. Block Grant Authorities
2. DEEWR

Australian Government funding for government schools

Since January 2009, Australian Government funding for government schools (including its contribution towards the capital needs of public schools) has been delivered through the intergovernmental funding framework associated with the National Education Agreement (NEA) with the states and territories. The funding framework provides flexibility for states and territories to allocate Commonwealth funding to areas that they believe will produce the best outcomes for all students.

Other Australian Government school infrastructure programs

1. Local Schools Working Together pilot program
2. Trade Training Centres in Schools Program
3. Digital Education Revolution
4. Building the Education Revolution
5. National Solar Schools Program

Review of Funding for Schooling

On 15 April 2010, the former Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced a review of school funding arrangements, including school infrastructure funding, to commence in 2010 and conclude in 2011.

All Australians with an interest in school funding are being given the opportunity to contribute, and build the strongest possible platform for long-term investment and improvements in educational outcomes beyond 2012.