A remoteness loading for non-government schools is provided in recognition of the higher cost of delivering education services in regional and remote areas of Australia.

The remoteness loading is linked to the recurrent expenditure funding provided by the Commonwealth Government to non-government schools. Eligibility for the loading is determined according to the level of remoteness of a non-government school or campus. Schools or campuses classified as ‘Moderately Accessible’, ‘Remote’ or ‘Very Remote’ receive an additional 5 per cent, 10 per cent or 20 per cent respectively, of the funding entitlement associated with the school’s Socioeconomic Status (SES) score.

For the 2009-2012 funding period, remoteness is classified using the Remoteness Structure for census year 2006, which is part of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Australian Standard Geographical Classification, based on the Census Collection District (CD) in which the school or school campus is located.  The Department maps school and campus locations to an ABS CD based on the location address provided to the Department by the school. A school or campus receives the remoteness classification relating to the CD in which it is located.  The loading is provided for each student at the relevant location.

For information about the remoteness loading or remoteness classification, call 1800 677 027 and choose option 4 when prompted.