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Student Resource Package – Targeted Initiatives

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Late Enrolment Funding (Reference 53)

Late Enrolment Funding helps support young people experiencing vulnerability re-engaging in education following the February census.

If a young person is eligible, the school they attend will receive the funding directly.

There is only one general Late Enrolment Funding round for 2026.

Payments

Late Enrolment Funding gives targeted support to schools via the Student Resource Package (SRP). This funding is for young people who enrol after the February census and meet the eligibility criteria.

Application deadlines

Applications open on 13 July 2026 and close on 7 August 2026.

Schools will receive their payments as part of the revised SRP in late September 2026.

Individual rate

The 2026 individual rate is a targeted payment of $7,500. Schools can access an extra $2,000 in funding, in addition to the Late Enrolment Funding, if they enrol a young person who is either:

  • in out of home care
  • involved in youth justice, either in custody or appearing before the Children’s Courts.

This acknowledges the more personalised approach the school needs to keep this cohort engaged in education.

Enrolment period: 27 January 2026 to 31 July 2026

Targeted payment: $7,500

Payment with additional youth justice facility loading: $9,500

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Late Enrolment Funding, the young person must:

  • be re-engaging with education after the February census
  • not have been counted (funded) in a Department of Education school census in the same year and meet at least one of these criteria:
    • disengaged from school – this requires evidence of less than 30% attendance in the 2 school terms prior to enrolment (for example, CASES21 attendance data, description of attendance history)
    • living in statutory out of home care, that is, they are not in their family home. Instead, they are in a temporary, medium or long-term living arrangement
    • involved with the youth justice system, including those on a youth control order and intensive bail conditions (identified by Regional Education Children’s Court Liaison Officers or Koorie Education Children’s Court Liaison Officers, Parkville College staff or Youth Justice Advisors)
  • have a confirmed enrolment at a government school
  • have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in place (the IEP policy requires IEPs for the groups listed above)
  • have not received Late Enrolment Funding in the current calendar year.

There is no age limit for applications.

Applying for funding

  • If a young person is eligible for LEF, they are also required to have an IEP consistent with the Individual Education Plans policy.
  • To apply, schools must complete and submit the online application form (staff login required)External Link and attach each young person's IEP.
  • The Performance and Evaluation Division reviews each application to determine whether the young person received funding during the February census.
  • If the young person was funded, the school is notified immediately and the application is ineligible.
  • If the young person was not funded, the application will be assessed for approval by the region.
  • Schools will receive an email advising of the application outcome and amount of any approved funding.
  • Payments will be allocated as part of the revised SRP in late September 2026.

Contacts

Schools can email their Senior Regional Pathways Officer to discuss applications and set timeframes to ensure timely submission:

For more information about this policy, schools can email[CH15.1][RT15.2] youth.participation@education.vic.gov.au.

Reference 53 of the SRP Guide, providing information on late enrolment funding including eligibility and rates.

Reviewed 21 July 2026

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