Country Area Program Grant (Reference 45)
The purpose of this funding line is to improve the capacity of country schools to broaden the curriculum, improve information and communication technology (ICT), professional development and promote networking.
Funding is provided to schools with campuses meeting the eligibility criteria. Allocations comprise a base component and a per student component, which increase with distance from Melbourne.
Eligibility criteria
Campuses of any type that meet all of the following location criteria are eligible:
- More than 150 km from Melbourne (as measured from GPO)
- More than 25 km from the nearest provincial centre (town hall or similar used as point of measure, see below) with a population of more than 20,000 as measured according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Urban Centres and Localities (UCL) 2016)
- In a community with a population of less than 5,000 (as measured according to UCL 2016)
| Provincial Centre | Point of measurement |
|---|---|
| Geelong | Geelong City Hall |
| Ballarat | Ballarat Town Hall |
| Bendigo | Bendigo Town Hall |
| Shepparton-Mooroopna | Greater Shepparton City Council |
| Warrnambool | Warrnambool City Council |
| Albury-Wodonga | Wodonga Council |
| Mildura | Mildura Rural City Council |
| Traralgon | Traralgon LaTrobe City Council Service Centre and Library |
| Melton | Melton Community Hall |
| Sunbury | Sunbury Memorial Hall |
Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through cash funding.
Calculation
Allocation = [(Base + Primary enrolment × Per primary student rate) + (Base + Secondary enrolment × Per secondary student rate)] × [1 + (Distance from Melbourne/150 km)]
Note: The campus receives each base amount only when the relevant enrolment is more than zero. Primary enrolments included in the calculation are limited to a maximum of 300 students. Secondary enrolments included in the calculation are limited to a maximum of 500 students.
Rates 2024
- Base amount: $2,221.64
- Primary per student rate: $1.37
- Secondary per student rate: $5.95
Other relevant information
- It is intended that location measures will be updated with the release of new ABS data every 5 years. The next release is scheduled in post-2024.
- School distances from provincial centres and Melbourne GPO are measured via road distances.
- For more information about UCL definition and sources, refer to the Australian Bureau of website.
- To determine the UCL that your school is in, refer to the map on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
To determine a school’s geographic parameters, refer to Steps to determine a school’s geographic .
Additionally, schools that may be eligible for transition should refer to: Transition Funding (Rural) (Reference 126)
Reviewed 31 December 2023