Student Resource Package – Targeted Initiatives

Policy

This policy provides information about how funding is allocated to schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) for targeted initiatives.

Details

Funding for ‘targeted initiatives’ is one of 3 categories of funding provided for by the SRP.

The targeted initiatives component provides funding for programs with specific targeted criteria and/or defined life spans. The Guidance tab provides information about the following specific types of targeted initiative funding:

• Primary Welfare
• Late Enrolment and Senior Secondary Re-engagement
• Doctors in Secondary Schools – School program lead funding
• Respectful Relationships
• Extended Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program
• Early Years Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program
• Career Education Funding
• Swimming in Schools
• Head Start
• National Student Wellbeing Program
• Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support Initiative
• Student Excellence Program Funding
• VCE Revision Lectures
• Professional Learning Communities Link Schools
• Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists Initiative
• Transition Funding (Rural)
• Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination
• Tutor Learning Initiative
• Mental Health in Primary Schools
• Mental Health in Specialist Schools
• Career Start – Transforming the First Years of the Teaching Career
• Secondary Mathematics and Science Initiative
• Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Establishment Grant Initiative
• Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow Programs
• Inclusion Outreach Coaching initiative
• School Mental Health Fund
• Casual Relief Teacher Travel Fund
• Active Schools
• Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students

Schools are expected to use SRP funds for the purpose for which it was allocated.

For more general information on the SRP, please refer to the Student Resource Package — Overview page.

Related policies

• Career Education Funding — Accountability and Reporting Requirements
• Chaplaincy
• Doctors in Secondary Schools
• Flexible Learning Options
• Parent Payments
• Purchasing Secondary Courses and Vocational Training from External Providers
• School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
• Student Engagement
• Student Resource Package — Core Student Learning Allocation (Student Based Funding)
• Student Resource Package — Equity Funding (Student-Based Funding)
• Student Resource Package — Managing the Budget
• Student Resource Package — Overview
• Student Resource Package — School Infrastructure
• Student Resource Package — School Specific Programs
• VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate Contract
• Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students
• Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students (Reference 143 of the Student Resource Package Guide)

Contacts

Primary Welfare Officer
David Billimoria
Phone: 03 7022 1324

Senior Secondary Re-engagement
Deborah Maher
Phone: 03 7022 1905

Career Education Funding
Leela Darvall
Phone: 03 7022 1824

VET
Clare Sherman
Phone: 03 7022 0923

Doctors in Secondary schools
Karen Gray
Phone: 03 7022 0631

Swimming in Schools
Statewide Swimming Coordinator
Phone: 03 4334 0523
Email: school.swimming@education.vic.gov.au

Chaplaincy
David Billimoria
Phone: 03 7022 1324

For information on how Victorian government schools can implement chaplaincy services not funded through the National School Chaplaincy Program, refer to the Department’s Chaplaincy Policy.

Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
Kate Brady
Phone: 03 7022 2707

Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists
Scott Ware
Phone: 03 7022 0453

Head Start
Email: head.start@education.vic.gov.au

Respectful Relationships
Email: respectful.relationships@education.vic.gov.au

Guidance

Targeted initiatives include programs with specific targeting criteria and/or defined life spans.

This guidance contains the following chapters:

• Primary Welfare (Reference 50)
• Late Enrolment and Senior Secondary Re-engagement (Reference 53)
• Doctors in Secondary Schools – School program lead funding (Reference 64)
• Respectful Relationships (Reference 86)
• Extended Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (Reference 88)
• Early Years Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (Reference 90)
• Career Education Funding (Reference 91)
• Swimming in School (Reference 115)
• Head Start (Reference 116)
• National Student Wellbeing Program (Reference 117)
• Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support Initiative (Reference 118)
• Student Excellence Program Funding (Reference 120)
• VCE Revision Lectures (Reference 121)
• Professional Learning Communities Link Schools (Reference 122)
• Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists Initiative (Reference 125)
• Transition Funding (Rural) (Reference 126)
• Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination (Reference 127)
• Tutor Learning Initiative (Reference 129)
• Mental Health in Primary Schools (Reference 130)
• Mental Health Practitioners in Specialist Schools (Reference 131)
• Career Start – Transforming the First Years of the Teaching (Reference 132)
• Secondary Mathematics and Science Initiative (Reference 133)
• Outside School Hours Care Establishment Grant Initiative (Reference 134)
• Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow Programs (Reference 135)
• Inclusion Outreach Coaching (IOC) Initiative (Reference 136)
• School Mental Health Fund (Reference 139)
• Casual Relief Teacher Travel Fund (Reference 141)
• Active Schools (Reference 142)
• Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students (Reference 143)

Primary Welfare (Reference 50)

The Primary Welfare Officer initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of schools to develop positive school cultures and to support students who are at risk of disengagement and not achieving their educational potential. The Primary Welfare Officer initiative extends work undertaken in government primary, P-12 and special schools with the greatest need in Victoria to promote a safe and supportive environment and enhance student outcomes.

Primary Welfare Officer allocations in the Student Resource Package (SRP) have been set for 2023. Schools do not have to apply for funding. Funding is provided to schools that have primary enrolments at the campus level. Funding is provided consistent with the 2011 Student Family Occupation density for the campus, equal to or greater than 0.4559.

Where a school’s campus enrolments increase additional per student funding will be provided. However, where enrolments decline no adjustment will be made. No adjustments are made for changes to the Student Family Occupation density.

Schools that are transitioning to the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative in 2023 will receive funding consistent with MHiPS funding allocations. Refer to the MHiPS SRP guidance.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for the Primary Welfare Funding at campus level:

• Primary
• Primary/Secondary Combined
• Special
• Language
• Day Special
• Disability
• Special Development

Campuses of secondary schools are not eligible.

Camp/Outdoor schools are ineligible irrespective of their entity register classification.

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through credit funding.

The following campuses are not funded for this allocation: Aurora School and Flying Fruit Fly Circus School.

Calculation

The Primary Welfare Officer funding model in the SRP from 2012 consists of base funding and per student funding with a cap on the total funding available at each campus. The formula is as follows:

Base + ([School campus SFO − State-wide SFO threshold] × Student rate × enrolments)

Primary, Primary/Secondary and Language schools are funded on Primary enrolments.

Special schools are funded on Total enrolments.

Rates – 2023

• SFO threshold – 0.4559
• Base – $19,955
• Per student rate – $1,272.31
• Total funding per campus cap – $95,185

Further information

• Primary Welfare Officer initiative – provides general information about the Primary Welfare Officer initiative
• Student Engagement Policy – provides advice, resources and strategies for schools on developing a Student Engagement Policy, promoting positive student behaviour, and responding to challenging behaviour. It provides resources that schools can access to support and improve student engagement

Late Enrolment and Senior Secondary Re-engagement (Reference 53)

Late Enrolment and Senior Secondary Re-engagement Funding

Late Enrolment Funding is available to support young people experiencing vulnerability re-engaging in education following the February census. The Senior Secondary Re-engagement Funding aims to target senior secondary students re-engaging into education via contracted provision of the VCE Vocational Major or VPC.

If a young person is eligible, funds will be allocated directly to the school where the young person is enrolled, paid pro-rate from the date of the young person’s enrolment.

Payments

The Late Enrolment and Senior Secondary Re-engagement Program provide targeted funding through the Student Resource Package (SRP) to schools for individual young people who enrol after the February census is completed and who meet the eligibility criteria.

Application deadlines

Round 2 applications open on Monday 7 August 2023 and close on Friday 25 August 2023.

Individual rate

The 2023 individual rate is a targeted payment of $10,000, which will be paid out pro-rata (100% or 75%) based on the enrolment date of the young person. There will be additional funding of $2,000 available to schools on top of the Late Enrolment Funding payment if they enrol a young person who has been involved in youth justice – either in custody or appearing before the Children’s Courts, in recognition of the often more personalised approach required to ensure ongoing engagement in education for this cohort.

Funding will be paid pro-rata based on the date of enrolment:

Eligibility criteria

For schools to apply for Late Enrolment Funding, the young person must be re-engaging with education after the February census and meet the following criteria:

• not been counted (funded) in a Department of Education school census in the same year and must meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • disengaged from school (defined as less than 30% attendance)
  • residing in statutory Out of Home Care (defined as young people who cannot live in their family home and are residing in a temporary, medium or long-term living arrangement)
  • involved with the youth justice system, including a young person with a youth control order and intensive bail conditions (identified by Education Justice Initiative staff, Parkville College staff or court liaison officers)
• have a confirmed school enrolment (or equivalent) at a government school with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in place (please note there is no age limit for applications)
• not have received Late Enrolment Funding within the current financial year
• not be participating in an approved senior or foundational secondary re-engagement program.

For schools to be eligible for Senior Secondary Re-engagement Funding, the following criteria must be met:

• the young person must be re-engaging with education after the February census
• the young person must not have been counted (funded) in a Department of Education school census in the same year
• the young person must be participating in an approved senior secondary re-engagement program with an IEP in place.

Applying for funding

Once a young person is identified as eligible for funding:

Step 1

The school develops an IEP for the young person. An IEP is required for both Late Enrolment Funding and Senior Secondary Re-engagement Funding applications. Schools must use the IEP template developed by the department which is available at Individual Education Plans – Resources.

It is required that school staff take the following steps when developing an IEP:

1. Utilise the department’s IEP template.
2. Complete the IEP eLearning module on LearnED (available via eduPay) and attend an IEP webinar (available via Arc – Individual Education Planning).
3. Schedule a Student Support Groups (SSG) meeting with the student (where appropriate), their parent/carer, teacher and education support staff. The SSG is an opportunity to get to know the student and how they learn. The meeting will assist school staff in understanding the student’s strengths and interests and any challenges or barriers to learning and will assist in developing student-centred approaches.
4. After the IEP has been developed, use the IEP quality checklist rubric to check that it includes the essential components.

Step 2

The school completes the online application form (staff login required) and attaches the completed IEP.

Step 3

The application is initially sent to the Performance and Evaluation Division to determine whether the young person was funded during the February census. If a young person was not funded, the application will then go through a series of approvals. If the young person was funded, the principal will be notified immediately, and the application will be deemed ineligible.

Step 4

Schools will receive advice via email confirming the application's approval and the direct payment of approved funds to the school which takes place via the SRP update.

Links

For further information on re-engagement programs refer to: Re-engagement Programs.

For further information on VET delivered to secondary school students refer to: Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary School Students.

Contacts

Schools should contact the Manager of Youth Pathways and Transition in their region to discuss applications and determine time frames to ensure the timely submission of applications.

If you require further information, please email: youth.participation@education.vic.gov.au

Doctors in Secondary Schools – School program lead funding (Reference 64)

The Doctors in Secondary Schools Program (DiSS) funds general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses to attend 100 Victorian government secondary schools up to one day a week to provide medical advice and health care to those students most in need.

School program lead funding

Schools will be required to appoint a Leading Teacher to hold overall responsibility for program coordination duties for the school.

Schools will be provided with the funding equivalent to 0.2 FTE at Leading Teacher Level 3.1 pay rate to support this for the school year.

The responsibility for coordination of the program within the school can also rest with an Assistant Principal, if that is more appropriate than a Leading Teacher. However, if a school appoints an Assistant Principal to the School Program Lead role, the school will still receive the same amount of funding as if a Leading Teacher were appointed.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for DiSS Funding at school level.

• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary Combined

The 2 schools below schools are also eligible for this funding:

• Croydon Community School
• Oakwood School

Funding is calculated at the Indicative budget cycle, through credit funding.

Calculation

Funding = Leading Teacher Level 3.1 × 0.2 FTE

*Student Resource Package (SRP) Indexation has been applied to the rate annually since commencement, noting payroll tax and superannuation has also been applied to the allocation.

Responsibilities of the school program lead

The Doctors in Secondary Schools Program Lead is responsible for providing leadership in the school around the implementation of the program, and plays a crucial role in leading the partnership between the health and education sectors as part of the DiSS program. This includes:

• support the GP to deliver youth-friendly primary health care to the student population
• collaborate with the practice nurse to ensure effective management of the service, including appointment systems
• integrate the GP service into the broader health and wellbeing offering of the school
• provide leadership around parent/ carer/ broader school community involvement in the Doctors in Secondary Schools program
• supporting the programs strategic planning to ensure a high-quality service that is trusted, fully utilised and youth friendly
• promoting the service to the students and the broader school community and linking the clinical team with other members of school staff
• ensure compliance to relevant privacy legislation and provide a child safe environment in accordance with the Child Safe Standards
• build a positive relationship with the local GP practice and facilitate partnerships with community health providers for the benefit of the student population

Further information

• Doctors in secondary schools
• Contact doctors.in.schools@education.vic.gov.au

Respectful Relationships (Reference 86)

Respectful Relationships is being implemented across the state through a lead and partner school model.

Funding for this initiative is allocated through the SRP and should be recorded in CASES21 as follows:

• Schools are encouraged to use the CASES21 sub-program code for their Respectful Relationships transactions.
• Lead schools CASES21 Respectful Relationships sub-program code is 5215.
• Partner schools CASES21 Respectful Relationships sub-program code is 5216.

Eligibility

Schools with the following school types are eligible for Respectful Relationships funding at school level:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary Combined
• Specialist
• Language.

Funding may be calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through cash funding.

Funding allocation

Additional funding for new lead schools

Lead schools that signed up in 2022 will each receive $10,000 in 2023 to:

• support the implementation of the whole school approach to Respectful Relationships
• support you to mentor and facilitate your partner school cluster
• participate in Respectful Relationships professional learning.

Funding for partner schools

New schools opening in 2023 will receive $4,000 to:

• support the implementation of the whole school approach to Respectful Relationships as a partner school
• participate in your local lead and partner school cluster
• participate in Respectful Relationships professional learning.

More information

• Respectful Relationships
• Email: respectful.relationships@education.vic.gov.au

Extended Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (Reference 88)

Program description

The Extended Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (E-KLNP) is the Years 4 to 6 component of the Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (KLNP) which supports improved literacy/numeracy outcomes for primary-aged Koorie students in Victorian Government schools. The E-KLNP provides funding for Koorie students in Years 4 to 6 who are below National Minimum Standards in NAPLAN in the domains of Reading and Numeracy. Schools use E-KLNP funding to provide additional targeted assistance in literacy/numeracy to eligible students. Funding to schools is determined using student assessment data collected centrally during Term 1. Schools are informed of the program via the School Update at the start of Term 2 and can check their funding via the School Performance Reports website (staff login required). Funding is guaranteed and paid via the revised Student Resource Package (SRP) in Term 3.

Accountability

Funded schools are expected to commit to a program of targeted support for eligible Koorie students. Schools should use funds in line with the acceptable use policy outlined in the program guidelines and should acquit revenue and all expenditure relating to the E-KLNP against CASES21 sub-program 9624. For reporting purposes, schools should use the KLNP Literacy and Numeracy fields in CASES 21 to identify students who are receiving KLNP support. Schools should select ‘Y’ for students receiving support in either or both fields by week 6 of the Term in which support is provided and update the fields as necessary by week 6 of subsequent terms throughout the remainder of the year.

Eligibility and funding

E-KLNP funding is based on the number of Koorie students in Years 4, 5 and 6 who are below National Minimum Standards (NMS) in the NAPLAN domains of Reading/Numeracy.

Schools do not have to apply for funding. Eligible Koorie students are identified using data collected centrally. In some cases, additional students may be eligible for variance funding, subject to evidence provided by schools. The Variance application process occurs in May each year. Schools are advised the opening and closing times of this Variance process in School Update during April.

Use of E-KLNP funding

E-KLNP funding is intended to support accelerated progress of eligible Koorie students in literacy/numeracy. The model of support will be determined by schools in consultation with students and families. Funds should be used to provide additional targeted support to identified students, for example by engaging additional personnel to:

• work directly with the identified students individually or in groups
• free the classroom teacher to work with the identified students
• release an expert teacher from classroom duties to provide targeted support.

Personnel engaged to provide additional support need to demonstrate high-level skills in literacy and/or numeracy teaching and learning and be culturally sensitive to build trusting and productive working relationships with students and families.

Further information

For further enquiries, contact the coordinator at koorielitnum@education.vic.gov.au

Early Years Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (Reference 90)

Program description

The Early Years Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (EYKLNP) is the Prep to Year 3 component of the Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program (KLNP) which supports improved literacy/numeracy outcomes for primary-aged Koorie students in Victorian government schools. The EYKLNP provides funding for Koorie students in Prep to Year 3 who are below expected levels in literacy/numeracy and to Koorie students in special development schools who are age-equivalent to the Prep to Year 3 cohort. Schools use EYKLNP funding to provide additional targeted assistance in literacy/numeracy to eligible students. Funding to schools is determined using student assessment data collected centrally during Term 1. Schools are informed of the program via the School Update at the start of Term 2 and can check their funding via the School Performance Reports website (staff login required). Funding is guaranteed and paid via the revised Student Resource Package (SRP) in Term 3.

Accountability

Funded schools are expected to commit to a program of targeted support for eligible Koorie students. Schools should use funds in line with the acceptable use policy outlined in the program guidelines (staff login required) and should acquit revenue and all expenditure relating to the EYKLNP against CASES21 sub-program 9623. For reporting purposes, schools should use the KLNP Literacy and Numeracy fields in CASES 21 to identify students who are receiving KLNP support. Schools should select ‘Y’ for students receiving support in either or both fields by week 6 of the Term in which support is provided and update the fields as necessary by week 6 of subsequent terms throughout the remainder of the year.

Eligibility and funding

EYKLNP funding is based on the number of Koorie students in Prep – Year 3 who are below expected levels in literacy or numeracy.

Schools do not have to apply for funding. Eligible Koorie students are identified using data collected centrally. In some cases, additional students may be eligible for variance funding, subject to evidence provided by schools. The Variance application process occurs in May each year. Schools are advised the opening and closing times of this Variance process in School Update during April.

Use of EYKLNP funding

EYKLNP funding is intended to support accelerated progress of eligible Koorie students in literacy/numeracy. The model of support will be determined by schools in consultation with students and families. Funds should be used to provide additional targeted support to identified students, for example by engaging additional personnel to:

• work directly with the identified students individually or in groups
• free the classroom teacher to work with the identified students
• release an expert teacher from classroom duties to provide targeted support.

Personnel engaged to provide additional support need to demonstrate high-level skills in literacy and/or numeracy teaching and learning and be culturally sensitive to build trusting and productive working relationships with students and families.

Further information

For further enquiries, contact the coordinator at koorielitnum@education.vic.gov.au

Career Education Funding (Reference 91)

Career Education Funding (CEF) supports schools to provide career education activities for all students in Years 7 to 12.

CEF replaced managed individual pathways (MIPs) funding in 2019.

CEF accountability and reporting requirements are available at Career Education Funding – Accountability and Reporting Requirements.

Funding and eligibility

Eligible school or campus types:

• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary combined
• Special
• Special Development
• Language

Hospital, deaf and miscellaneous campuses are not eligible for CEF funding except for Virtual School Victoria and Victorian College of the Deaf. Camp/outdoor schools are ineligible irrespective of their entity register classification. Aurora School, Yarra Me School and the Netschool Campus of Bendigo Senior Secondary College are not eligible. Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through cash funding.

For Years 7 to 9

CEF funding is based on enrolments of students in Years 7 to 9 in Victorian government secondary school settings and students aged 12 to 14 years in Victorian government specialist schools and English Language settings.

For Years 10 to 12

CEF funding is based on the enrolments of students aged 15 years and over in Victorian government specialist schools and English Language settings and Years 10 to 12 in all other Victorian government secondary schools, and the school's Student Family Occupation (SFO) density.

Additional funding is provided to schools with SFO densities greater than a threshold value to support young people at risk of disengaging or not making a successful transition to further education, training or secure employment.

Calculation

For Years 7 to 9

CEF allocation = CEF enrolments × Base per student rate

Note: If a school's CEF allocation is less than the Minimum allocation (as identified in 'Rates' below), the school will receive the Minimum allocation. The Minimum allocation is set based on enrolment levels.

For Years 10 to 12

CEF allocation = Base allocation + At risk allocation

Note: If a school's CEF allocation is less than the Minimum allocations (as identified in 'Rates' below), the school will receive the Minimum allocation. The Minimum allocation is set based on enrolment levels.

Base allocation = CEF enrolments × Base per student rate

At risk allocation (only if the schools SFO index is greater than the SFO threshold – see 'Rates' below) = CEF enrolments × ([School SFO index] − [SFO threshold]) / (1 − [SFO threshold]) × At risk allocation per student rate.

Rates – 2023

For Year 7

• Base per student rate: $20 per CEF enrolment
• Minimum allocation: $250

For Year 8

• Base per student rate: $26 per CEF enrolment
• Minimum allocation: $250

For Year 9

• Base per student rate: $47 per CEF enrolment
• Minimum allocation: $500

Years 10 to 12 – per student rates

• Base per student rate: $63 per CEF enrolment
• At risk allocation per student rate: $559 per CEF enrolment
• SFO threshold: 0.4190

Years 10 to 12 – minimum allocations

• Less than 30 CEF enrolments: $208 per CEF enrolment
• 30 to 99.9 CEF enrolments: $6,000 in total
• Greater than or equal to 100 CEF enrolment: $10,000 in total

Swimming in Schools (Reference 115)

The Swimming in Schools initiative is designed to increase opportunities for students to learn how to swim, and ensure they develop lifelong skills in swimming and water safety.

Swimming and water safety education is embedded across all bands of the Victorian Curriculum (F-10). By the end of Year 6, it is anticipated that students are able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge in the Victorian Water Safety Certificate (VWSC). Schools can seek the assistance of swimming providers to provide swimming and water safety programs, to assess the competencies of their students and to award VWSC through the VWSC portal.

The Swimming in Schools initiative provides funding for the delivery of swimming and water safety programs.

Funding will be distributed through the Student Resource Package.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible to receive Swimming in Schools funding at school level:

• Primary
• Primary/Secondary Combined
• Special
• Day Special
• Deaf (excluding deaf campuses of mainstream schools)
• Disability
• Special Development
• English Language

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles; funding is provided through cash funding.

Funding allocation

Primary and Primary/Secondary Schools

Funding is allocated based on the number of Year 6 enrolments.

Schools are to use the funding to support program provision at any year level.

Specialist schools and English Language schools

Funding is allocated based on the number of enrolments.

Schools are to use the funding to support program provision at any year level.

Rates

Metropolitan Victorian government schools – Cash ($) Allocation

• Per Year 6 student – Primary and Primary-Secondary combined Schools – $235
• Per Specialist School student – $235
• Per English Language School student – $235

Regional Victorian government schools – Cash ($) Allocation

• Per Year 6 student – Primary and Primary-Secondary combined Schools – $270
• Per Specialist School student – $270
• Per English Language School student – $270

Reporting in CASES21

Schools must record their expenditure and student attendance information for swimming and water-safety programs in CASES21.

• The attendance code is 620: Swimming and Water Safety Program
• The financial code is 4209: Swimming in Schools

Contact: school.swimming@education.vic.gov.au

Head Start (Reference 116)

Head Start is an apprenticeship and traineeship pathway for secondary students. Head Start students are encouraged to spend more time doing important, paid, on-the-job training while completing their senior secondary certificate.

No 2023 Indicative Student Resource Package (SRP) is available as recruitment is underway for the program and host schools may change. This will only be applicable from 2023 Confirmed SRP.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for Head Start funding at a school level:

• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary Combined

The following special school campuses are also eligible for Head Start funding:

• Ballarat Specialist School (4762) – Gillies Street Campus
• Eastern Ranges School (5309) – Eastern Ranges School Campus

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through credit funding.

Funding allocation

SRP credit funding will be provided to participating schools that host Head Start staff.

Funding will cover salary and will be allocated based on salary rates and time fractions of Head Start staff employed in each cluster.

Operational costs

Operational costs will be funded through the Schools targeted funding governance portal (Education account required).

Note: Arrangements have been made so mileage can be processed in eduPay and charged directly to the program area. For more information, contact head.start@education.vic.gov.au

National Student Wellbeing Program (Reference 117)

The National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP) is an Australian Government program.

The NSWP provides:

• pastoral care services
• strategies that support the wellbeing of the broader school community.

From 1 January 2023, all Victorian schools participating in the NSWP can:

• contract a chaplain or student wellbeing officer through a NSWP provider
• employ a student wellbeing officer as an education support staff member.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for NSWP funding at a campus level:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary combined
• Special
• Day Special
• Special Development
• Community

Funding may be calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through cash funding.

Funding rates

Eligible school campuses receive funding of $20,280 per year or $24,336 for schools in remote/very remote areas.

Contact

• Program information: National Student Wellbeing Program
• Email: student.engagement@education.vic.gov.au

Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support Initiative (Reference 118)

The Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support (MYLNS) initiative provides funding to government secondary schools to improve outcomes for students who are at risk of finishing school without the literacy or numeracy they need for future work, education and training.

Through the MYLNS initiative, schools are provided funding to release existing teachers as Literacy Improvement Teachers and / or Numeracy Improvement Teachers.

Improvement Teachers deliver literacy or numeracy direct teaching support to students in Year 10 who were identified as below National Minimum Standard in Reading and/or Numeracy as per 2022 NAPLAN results.

There is no longer a funding component to support capability building for teachers as the Improvement Teachers can work with other teaching staff and middle leaders (such as Learning Specialists) in the school through, for example, Professional Learning Community (PLC) structures.

Refer to the department’s policy on Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support for further information on implementing the initiative.

Accountability

Funding is provided to release teachers to provide direct teaching support to prioritised students in Year 10.

Schools are required to:

• tag prioritised students in CASES21 and maintain accuracy of the data on a termly basis
• nominate Improvement Teachers and update their details as required
• maintain records of student learning in an approved template.

Schools should utilise any unspent 2022 funding from MYLNS, Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI), and existing funding sources (for example, Equity Funding) to continue providing differentiated, needs-based support to students who need it most across all year levels.

Eligibility

Funding is provided to all Victorian government schools with Year 10 students except for select entry, camp, language and specialist schools.

Funding allocation

Schools do not have to apply for MYLNS funding. Funding is determined using NAPLAN reading and numeracy data and is included in the Student Resource Package (SRP).

Time-release funding for Improvement Teachers will be provided as a cash line under Targeted Initiatives. Funding for 2023 Improvement Teachers commences on 1 January 2023.

The funding included in the 2023 Indicative SRP is calculated using a 3-year rolling average (2018, 2019, and 2021) of the number of Year 9 students in the school achieving below National Minimum Standard in NAPLAN Reading or Numeracy. This includes the number of students exempt from sitting NAPLAN.

MYLNS funding will be revised where required in the Confirmed SRP through comparing the rolling NAPLAN average to the actual 2022 NAPLAN data (only ‘upwards’ revisions will be made).

Secondary schools with Year 10 students but no Year 9 students (that is, Senior Secondary Schools) will receive a funding allocation based on their 2022 Year 10 cohort’s Year 9 NAPLAN results.

Schools with Flexible Learning Option (FLO) campuses or programs will be provided with additional funding (0.2 FTE) to increase the support available to students with high levels of need.

Funding amounts are expressed as an FTE time release and funded at Classroom Teacher 2.5 level.

Funding is not re-allocated between schools if students transfer in or out during the school year.

Schools may choose to support additional students up to the maximum number funded, based on literacy and numeracy assessment data.

Schools may refer to the table below as a guide to determine the appropriate model of support for their students, alongside TLI and other targeted funding.

Notes:

• *All schools with Year 10 students receive a minimum of 0.4 FTE time release funding ($49,061) as they are eligible for the equivalent of 0.2 FTE for literacy direct support, and 0. 2 FTE for numeracy direct support.
• Schools with Flexible Learning Option (FLO) campuses or programs have been provided with additional funding (0.2 FTE) per FLO campus to increase the support available to students with high levels of need. FLO funding allocations have been reflected within the amount shown in Indicative SRP.

Support

For further information, refer to the department’s policy on Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support initiative or contact MYLNS@education.vic.gov.au

Student Excellence Program Funding (Reference 120)

The Student Excellence Program (SEP) funding supports schools to implement the Student Excellence Program.

The SEP includes:

• structured learning extension programs for high-ability students
• professional learning for classroom teachers to better support their high-ability students
• more resources for government schools to build their programs for high-ability students.

Schools can decide how to use the funding allocation to best meet the needs of their high-ability students – where relevant, schools can pool funds, for example in collaborative delivery of masterclasses. Many schools are already running programs for high-ability students, and this funding can be used to support these programs.

Accountability

Schools are responsible for using the funds within the guidelines provided by the department – refer to the Resources tab.

Schools must code any expenditure of SEP funding to the sub-program code 8502 in CASES21.

Where a school uses SEP funding to either employ a high-ability practice leader, make a special payment or support the release of a teacher, this expense will be managed through eduPay and will not appear in the CASES21 ledger.

Eligibility

Schools do not have to apply for funding. All eligible schools will receive a SEP funding allocation through the Student Resource Package (SRP) to support the implementation of the initiative in their school. Eligible school types include:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary combined.

School types and specific schools that are not eligible for SEP funding include:

• English language schools
• camp/outdoor schools
• selective entry high schools
• John Monash Science School
• Victoria College of the Arts Secondary School
• The Victorian School of Languages
• The Centre for Higher Education Studies.

Specialist schools will not automatically receive funding but can submit a request to the Student Excellence Unit for consideration.

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Funding

SEP funding is allocated based on the number of student enrolments in Victorian government primary and secondary schools.

Schools will receive a per school allocation related to their cohort size categorisation.

Use of SEP funding

Schools will make local decisions as to how the SEP funding allocation will be used to best meet the needs of their high-ability students. For example, the funding may be used for:

• appointment of a High-Ability Practice Leader
• Casual Relief Teachers
• delivery of masterclasses for students in the Victorian High-Ability Program
• other programs for high-ability students
• co-ordination time for high-ability programs
• parent information evenings
• guest speakers for high-ability students
• classroom resources for extension activities.

Targeted SEP funding operates within a capped budget. This means that cohort allocations may be adjusted up or down depending on both changes in total enrolments from all schools and the spread of these enrolments across cohorts.

Further information

Contact: student.excellence@education.vic.gov.au

VCE Revision Lectures (Reference 121)

The VCE Revision Lectures initiative recognises that rural and regional students face unique barriers in attending VCE revision lectures due to additional travel and accommodation costs.

Targeted funding is available to support rural and regional students from government schools to access VCE revision lectures and other exam revision supports across Victoria.

Accountability

Schools are responsible for using the funding as per the School implementation guidelines (PDF) (staff login required) provided by the department.

Schools have discretion in allocating the funding for VCE revision lectures and related supports for senior VCE students.

To account for how the funding is spent, schools are required to complete an annual survey. Schools will be notified to complete the survey at the end of each calendar year.

Eligibility

Funding for VCE revision support is only available to rural and regional government schools with senior secondary graded enrolments (Year 11 and Year 12). Eligibility is determined using data from the February School Census.

The VCE Revision Lectures initiative defines rural and regional government schools as those in Local Government Areas (LGAs) outside of the metropolitan LGAs.

Rural and regional LGAs are aligned with the following department Areas: Mallee, Loddon Campaspe, Central Highlands, Wimmera South-West, Barwon, Ovens Murray, Goulburn, Inner Gippsland and Outer Gippsland.

Secondary and primary/secondary combined schools in these areas are eligible for funding.

How funding is calculated

Schools do not have to apply for funding.

Funding is calculated as part of the SRP and allocated through cash funding.

The funding is calculated using the number of Year 11 and 12 student enrolments, base student rate and location indexed funding.

The funding formula assumes that 15% of Year 11 students and 30% of Year 12 students will access VCE revision supports.

The base student rate may differ from year to year.

Location indexed funding means that schools furthest from Melbourne and other major centres receive a higher subsidy.

Rates – 2023

[(15% × Year 11 enrolments) × $160] + [(30% × Year 12 enrolments) × $815] + [Location index base $687.92 + (Location index × Senior secondary enrolments × Location index per student rate $108.87)]

Further information

For more information about the initiative contact rural.regional.reform@education.vic.gov.au

Professional Learning Communities Link Schools (Reference 122)

Professional Learning Communities (PLC) Link Schools are funded to lead cross school collaboration activities to support the system-wide spreading of effective and impactful PLC practices in Victorian government schools.

Eligibility

There are 51 PLC Link Schools in 2023. These schools are distributed across the state and include a combination of primary, secondary, P–12 and specialist schools.

PLC Link Schools are identified by regional offices via a rigorous selection process, with selection endorsed by the Deputy Secretary, Schools and Regional Services (SRS).

PLC Link School funding

PLC Link Schools receive $75,000 in cash via the SRP. Cash is provided to enable flexibility in how funding is utilised. Cash funding can be converted to credit as per the established process if the school wished to support time release of a PLC Link Leader.

PLC Link Schools will be on one of 2 funding schedules. If unsure of the timing of your SRP allocations, please contact the PLC Unit directly.

Acquittal of Link School funding

Schools are required to acquit the use of funds to the department via:

• completing a PLC Link School Implementation Plan and submitting during Term 1, 2023
• monitoring completion of activities in the Plan each term
• recording all PLC Link School cash expenditure against a school defined CASES21 sub-program code in the 7050 to 7056 range. Please title the nominated code 'PLC Link Schools'.

The PLC Link School Accountability Documentation Guide provides guidance on schools’ responsibilities to acquit SRP funding. PLC Link Schools are provided a copy of the guide upon appointment.

Support and monitoring

PLC Link Schools are supported and monitored by Area PLC Managers. PLC Link Schools work with their PLC Manager to evaluate and diagnose area needs, set goals for impact, develop and plan intended supports to other PLC schools, and implement and monitor the impact of the plan.

The PLC Unit, Performance Division, SRS provides state-wide capability building and resources for PLC Link Schools, and monitors impact at the system level.

More information

For queries regarding PLC Link Schools, please email: professional.learning.communities@education.vic.gov.au

Please contact professional.learning.communities@education.vic.gov.au for access to the PLC Link Schools Handbook and PLC Link Schools Accountability Documentation Guide.

Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists Initiative (Reference 125)

The Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists (PMSS) initiative is a 2 year program designed to drive whole school change through, generally 2, teachers from a primary school training to become specialists in either science or mathematics.

The program provides high quality face to face and online professional learning across the 2 years, including:

• development of the individual specialists’ learning and knowledge about the important and key concepts and pedagogies in mathematics/science learning
• development of others – working with teachers at the school level to further develop their practice
• development of whole school level improvements.

Eligibility

Each cohort of PMSS is subject to State Budget funding.

Schools are selected to be invited to participate in the initiative through school level data and consultation with regional executives.

All schools identified to be invited to participate are formally approved by the Minister for Education.

Schools for Cohort 7 of this initiative have already undertaken a selection process.

Schools must remain active in the professional learning and evaluation programs and allocate funds as set out in the Letter of Agreement.

Funding

Schools that are invited to participate in PMSS are provided funding via the Student Resource Package (SRP) to release each participating teacher 0.5 FTE for the 2 years to support their roles as specialists.

Calculation

Allocation = number of participating teachers × 0.5 × level 2‐6 salary + school on‐costs

That is $66,339.50 per year for each participating teacher.

Transition Funding (Rural) (Reference 126)

Transition Funding (Rural) is intended to provide time-limited support to schools most affected by changes to Rural School Size Adjustment Factor (RSAF), Location Index Funding (LIF) and Country Area Program grant (CAP) eligibility as a result of updated geographic boundaries.

Funding and Eligibility

Schools are eligible to receive Transition Funding (Rural) if they meet all the following eligibility criteria:

• face a reduction in funding of greater than $25,000 in 2021 as a result of changes to RSAF, LIF and CAP eligibility from the use of updated geographic boundaries
• their 2021 Student Resource Package (SRP) allocation is less than their 2020 SRP allocation.

Calculation and formula

Allocation = 2020 SRP (campus level) allocation − 2021 SRP (campus level) allocation

Note: The Transition Funding (Rural) allocation for a school campus has a maximum defined by:

• the funding reduction in 2021 as a result of changes to RSAF, LIF and CAP eligibility from the use of updated geographic boundaries.

Eligible School Types

As per eligibility for:

• Rural School Size Adjustment Factor (RSAF),
• Location Index Funding (LIF) and
• Country Area Program grant (CAP)

Funding will be based on the 2021 transitioning position of the eligible school, funding is allocated through a mix of credit and cash funding.

Funding for transition is time limited and will reduce annually. The below outlines the transition funding reduction over the transition period, in 2022 Schools transition funding will represent 75% of the previous year transition:

• 2021 Transition Funding allocated – 100%
• 2022 Transition Funding allocated – 75%
• 2023 Transition Funding allocated – 50%
• 2024 Transition Funding allocated – 25%
• 2025 Transition Funding allocated – 0%

Example: Transition Funding (Rural) for a school is calculated as follows.

A school with numbers in the table below satisfies the eligibility conditions.

Formula reference:

• A = [ 2020 SRP of the school ] − [ 2020 funding under rural items (RSAF, LIF and CAP) for which the school is no longer eligible ]
• B = 2020 funding under rural items (RSAF, LIF and CAP) for which the school is no longer eligible
• C = 2020 Revised Total SRP
• D = 2021 Indicative SRP without the rurality transition funding
• E = C − D (2020 SRP − 2021 SRP)
• F = Min (B,E) (Transition = 2020 SRP − 2021 SRP but capped at the loss of Rural Items).

Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination (Reference 127)

Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination program funding for schools to help with the coordination and delivery of vocational and applied learning programs, in particular, Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students (VDSS), work related learning and the VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate.

The key objectives of Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination funding are to:

• support schools with the administrative burden of delivering vocational and applied learning
• provide schools with additional support in coordinating the delivery of high-quality vocational and applied learning pathways.

For further information, refer to the department’s policy on Vocational and Applied Learning Coordination and Delivery Support for Schools.

Eligibility

In 2023 and 2024, the following schools are eligible to receive funding for Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination:

• mainstream government schools with a senior secondary program, and all specialist schools with senior secondary aged students.

Calculation

Each school will receive a flat amount equivalent to 0.3 FTE of an Education Support Staff salary level 1 range 4–6.

Funding is calculated at the Confirmed cycle and is allocated through cash funding.

Rate

2023 rate = $123,579.99 (Education Support Staff salary level 1 range 4–6, including payroll tax and superannuation).

2023 Indicative per annum amount per school, based on 0.3 FTE of Education Support Staff salary, level 1 range 4–6 = $37,074.00

Further information

Further information about the functions the funding can be used for and some examples of how the funding can be used are available at Vocational and Applied Learning Coordination and Delivery Support for Schools.

To record expenditure against this funding, schools should activate a CASES21 code within the 8950-8999 range (Vocational Education and Training) and add the title ‘JSP Coordination’.

The funding is currently available for 2023 and 2024 only. Please note when using the Jobs, Skills and Pathways Coordination funding in the employment of new staff in one or multiple schools, consideration must be made on the employment conditions of fixed term and ongoing staff and the implications for the school/s with funding only given to the role for 1 or 2 years.

Contact information

Contact Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Taskforce: pathways.reform@education.vic.gov.au

Tutor Learning Initiative (Reference 129)

The Tutor Learning Initiative (TLI) is designed to provide additional targeted small group learning support to students who need it most. For further information on the TLI, refer to the department's policy on the Tutor Learning Initiative.

Eligibility

All government schools, except ‘Camp’ school types are eligible for TLI funding in 2023, including:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary
• Specialist
• Language.

The following misclassified camp schools are excluded:

• The Alpine School
• Outdoor School
• Rubicon Outdoor Centre
• Somers School Camp
• Sovereign Hill School.

Monash Children’s Hospital school has no enrolments and is not funded. Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) has been excluded based on school request.

Funding

Schools do not have to apply for TLI funding. Funding will be provided directly to schools as a specific purpose payment through a Student Resource Package (SRP) credit allocation.

Schools must only use their funding for the provision of the TLI, which is to provide targeted teaching by a tutor to students identified as needing the most support, such as those who are falling behind or are below national minimum standards in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

Schools can use additional funds through, for example, Equity (Social Disadvantage) funding, to expand the TLI program.

This funding includes tutor on-costs for superannuation and payroll tax. When hiring staff, it is important to factor in these on-costs as they are not separately itemised within the budget.

Schools were advised of their TLI funding in the Indicative SRP in September 2022. Schools subsequently received a letter in Term 4 2022 detailing the equivalent FTE and number of students this is expected to support, and their expected 2022 SRP credit surplus contribution where applicable.

Enrolments collected during the February 2023 census are used to finalise the 2023 TLI allocation to schools. Each school will receive a confirmed TLI allocation equal to or greater than the amount that was advised in September 2022.

The funding allocation for each school is based on a model of students receiving 2 or 3 45-minute sessions each week, in groups of no more than 5 students, for 26 weeks. Each school can allocate this funding to meet their specific context and identified student needs across a range of time frames.

Schools are required to spend and acquit the TLI allocation during the 2023 calendar year (including any unspent 2022 TLI funding). Schools will, however, be able to retain unspent 2023 funding for the salary of tutors who are employed until 19 January 2024. As funding is only allocated in 2023, the unspent portion of funding will form the final 2023 credit position and be rolled over into the 2024 year, as per normal SRP reconciliation processes.

Calculation

Each eligible school campus receives a base level allocation of $25,000 with additional loadings based on student enrolments and disadvantage.

For each eligible campus:

a) Primary schools

Provided if Primary enrolment > 0

Formula:

Max of

[Floor 25K]

or

[Pri_total_enrol × Pri_enrol_rate + Pri_SD_enrol × Pri_SD_enrol_rate]

b) Secondary schools

Provided if Secondary enrolment > 0

Formula:

Max of

[Floor 25K]

or

[Sec_total_enrol × Sec_enrol_rate + Sec_SD_enrol × Sec_SD_enrol_rate]

c) Schools with both primary and secondary enrolments

(a) + (b)

Rates

Primary year level (Prep to Year 6 including primary ungraded or age equivalents) per student rate: $157.98 (referenced as Pri_total_rate in calculation above).

Secondary (Year 7 to Year 12 including secondary ungraded or age equivalents) per student rate: $178.77 (referenced as Sec_total_rate in calculation above).

Primary and special eligible social disadvantage per student rate: $424.96 (referenced as Pri_SD_enrol_rate in calculation above).

Secondary social disadvantage per student rate: $480.88 (referenced as Sec_SD_enrol_rate in calculation above).

Please note that these rates are rounded to 2 decimal places.

Credit surplus allocation

Schools received a letter in Term 4 2022 detailing their indicative 2023 TLI funding allocations, including credit surplus contribution where applicable.

The letter advised that where schools had unspent credit funds in excess of $10,000 provided for the employment of teaching and support staff as at pay period ending 24 September 2022, a proportion of these funds was required to be directed to support the engagement of tutors in 2023.

Schools’ contribution towards TLI is up to 30% of their 2023 indicative TLI allocation, providing it does not exceed 15% of their projected 2022 credit surplus. In instances where the 30% of the indicative TLI contribution is greater than the 15% of their 2022 projected credit surplus, schools will contribute less than 30% of their TLI allocations. This will ensure the new department funding is at least 70% for each school and schools’ remaining credit balances are greater than $10,000 as at the designated pay period.

Schools’ projected 2022 credit surplus will not include Disability Inclusion or Mental Health funding. As in 2022, schools will be able to use additional funds through, for example, Equity funding to expand their TLI offering in 2023.

Accountability requirements

Schools are required to:

• ensure eduPay records are updated by coding tutors as they are recruited. Schools must code tutors using the TLI code: 80026. Note that if tutors are being appointed from the school’s existing staff, their tutoring FTE must be re-coded to the TLI code: 80026 using a General Ledger (GL) override on eduPay
• keep up-to-date records of students participating in TLI by regularly tagging or un-tagging students in CASES21.This should be undertaken at the latest by end of week 6 each term. When recording TLI student details, please specify if the focus of the support is literacy or numeracy, or both
• utilise an approved template for tutors to record students’ learning goals
• complete implementation surveys.

In some cases, schools may also be invited to participate in interviews and focus groups as part of the TLI Evaluation.

Contact information

For further information contact your Student Achievement Manager, or tutor@education.vic.gov.au

Mental Health in Primary Schools (Reference 130)

The Victorian Government is providing $200 million over 4 years and $93.7 million ongoing to expand the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) program to every government and low-fee non-government primary school in Victoria.

Scaling up across the state from 2023, by 2026 every primary school will receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Eligibility

All government school campuses with primary-aged enrolments are eligible for MHiPS funding, including:

• Primary
• Primary/Secondary (primary enrolments only)
• Specialist (primary enrolments only)
• Language (primary enrolments only)

‘Secondary’ and ‘Camp’ schools and campuses are ineligible for MHiPS funding.

Virtual School Victoria is eligible for MhiPS funding.

MHiPS will be rolled out based on area between 2023 and 2026. The schedule is:

• 2023: Barwon, Brimbank Melton, Goulburn, Hume Merri-bek, Outer Gippsland
• 2024: Mallee, Ovens Murray, Southern Melbourne, Western Melbourne
• 2025: Inner Gippsland; Loddon Campaspe, Outer Eastern Melbourne, Wimmera South West
• 2026: Bayside Peninsula, Central Highlands, Inner Eastern Melbourne, North Eastern Melbourne

All MHiPS Pilot schools will continue in 2023.

Calculation

Participating campuses are funded to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, at a Classroom Teacher 2–4 level, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 FTE to 1.0 FTE.

A campus’s FTE allocation is based on primary enrolments.

Funding allocation = Base FTE × Rate + School on-costs

Enrolments used to calculate MHiPS funding will be updated at each SRP cycle (‘Indicative’ to reflect principal enrolment projections, ‘Confirmed’ to reflect February census enrolment and ‘Revised’ to reflect audited enrolments). Funding is allocated through credit funding.

Rate

Rate = $118,288.39 including school on-costs (Classroom Teacher 2–4)

Schools that are only receiving PWO in 2022 but are entering into MHiPS in 2023

In 2023, these schools will transition into MHiPS and will receive the higher of their 2023 MHiPS allocation or their 2022 PWO allocation.

Contact information

For further information contact mentalhealth@education.vic.gov.au

Mental Health Practitioners in Specialist Schools (Reference 131)

The Mental Health Practitioners in Specialist Schools (MHP) initiative provides funding to government specialist school campuses with secondary-aged enrolments (12 years+) to employ a suitably qualified Mental Health Practitioner (that is, a fully registered Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist or Social Worker) for between 2 and 4 days a week.

Mental Health Practitioners provide direct counselling support to students, early intervention services and whole-school mental health and wellbeing promotion and prevention activities. They also coordinate supports for students with complex needs.

For further information on the MHP initiative, refer to Mental health practitioners in schools in the department’s Mental health and wellbing toolkit.

Student Resource Package (SRP) funding is provided to cover the salary of an ongoing school-based Mental Health Practitioner. Participating specialist schools receive between a minimum of 0.4 FTE and a maximum of 0.8 FTE, depending on their secondary-aged student enrolments.

MHP initiative funding eligibility for schools with combined Primary/Secondary-aged enrolments

All participating specialist schools with secondary-aged enrolments will receive funding for an ongoing MHP from the beginning of Term 1, 2023. For specialist schools with both primary and secondary-aged student enrolments, funding allocations will be determined based on secondary-aged (12+ years) enrolments only.

FTE allocations will be fixed from the release of the Confirmed SRP (April 2023) for 2 years. At the conclusion of the 2-year period, FTE allocations will be reviewed and adjustments may be made.

Funding is allocated as credit and cash funding.

Special development campuses of mainstream schools are funded at school level.

Calculation

School FTE Allocation (Part 1) = FTE allocated as per below ranges:

• less than 100 students = 0.4 FTE
• greater than 100 to 250 students = 0.6 FTE
• 250+ students = 0.8 FTE

Funding calculation (Part 2) = School FTE allocation (rounded to one decimal) * Rate

Rate

Rate = Midpoint of an Education Support, Level 1 Range 4, position including school SRP on-costs

Career Start – Transforming the First Years of the Teaching Career (Reference 132)

The Career Start Pilot is a structured pilot program for graduate teachers which aims to improve their experience as they are inducted into the profession. It provides new graduate teachers with additional time and support to focus on preparation, learning from others including mentors, targeted professional learning, network opportunities with other graduate teachers through area-based alliances.

The pilot is being delivered in primary, specialist, P–9 and P–12 schools in the areas of North Eastern Melbourne, Western Melbourne and Inner Gippsland.

Two cohort intakes of graduate teachers (2021 and 2022) will be provided with additional time release and support, as will their mentors. Each graduate teacher will participate in the pilot for 2 years.

In 2023, there will be an additional intake of first year graduate teachers (Cohort 3) who will undertake a one-year program.

2021

• Cohort 1 – Year 1

2022

• Cohort 1 – Year 2
• Cohort 2 – Year 1

2023

• Cohort 2 – Year 2
• Cohort 3

A key component of the Pilot is a reduction in face-to-face teaching time for graduate teachers and their mentors. Schools will be funded to employ additional classroom teachers to counteract this reduction and ensure continuity of teaching and learning.

Teacher time release 2023

Graduate teachers – Cohort 2

Cohort 2 graduate teachers (completing their second year of the program in 2023) will be supported with a 2-hour reduction in face-to-face teaching time. Schools will receive funding at 10% of a full-time Classroom Level 2, Range 4 salary.

Graduate teachers – Cohort 3

Cohort 3 graduate teachers will be supported with a 2.5-hour reduction in face-to-face teaching time. This is in addition to the Victorian Government Schools Agreement (VGSA) 2022 which provides first year graduates with a 5% reduction of scheduled duties. Schools will receive funding at 11.6% of a Classroom Level 1, Range 5 salary.

Use of graduate time release

This time allocation will be used across multiple graduate teacher activities:

• for participation in Career Start professional learning activities
• for formal and informal mentoring via mentors or school leaders
• for observing lessons
• for participating in activities arranged by their area-based alliance.

School leaders, mentors and graduate teachers will work collaboratively in planning and allocating the time release to enable full participation in the pilot.

A pro-rata time allowance will apply to graduate teachers employed on a part-time basis.

Mentor teachers of graduates in Cohorts 2 and 3

To enable mentor teachers to fully support graduate teachers with their learning and development, the pilot supports a reduction of 1 hour for mentor teachers supporting Cohort 2 or Cohort 3 graduates. Schools will receive funding equivalent to 5% of a Classroom Level 2, Range 6 salary for each graduate teacher they mentor.

Use of mentor time release

The purpose of this funding is to support schools in reducing a mentor’s face-to-face teaching time so they can support the graduate to undertake observational rounds or team teaching activities, attend workshops and alliance meetings, without feeling overburdened by the role. The reduction is funded for the period of graduate engagement in the pilot.

Eligibility in 2023

Graduate teachers – Cohort 2

Graduate teachers are eligible to participate in Year 2 of the program if they are employed in a primary, P–9 or P–12 or specialist school in a pilot area (Inner Gippsland, North Eastern Melbourne and Western Melbourne) and have participated in the pilot in 2022.

Graduate teachers – Cohort 3

Graduate teachers are eligible to participate in Cohort 3 if they are employed in a primary, P–9 or P–12 or specialist school in a pilot area (Inner Gippsland, North Eastern Melbourne and Western Melbourne) and:

• have graduated with a bachelor or master qualification within the last 4 years
• are provisionally registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
• are commencing their first teaching position since gaining VIT provisional registration
• are employed at a Classroom Level 1, Range 1 classification.

A provisionally registered teacher (PRT) who has worked as a Casual Relief Teacher (CRT) is eligible.

A PRT who has worked as a tutor for the Tutor Learning Initiative in 2022 is eligible.

Rates and calculation

The pilot is funded to allow schools to employ additional classroom teachers to counteract the reduction in teaching time provided to graduate teachers and their mentors. These teachers will be responsible for the teaching duties that graduate teachers and mentors will no longer be able to undertake.

Funds will be released to schools on a pro-rata basis.

Graduate teachers – Cohort 2

(0.10 [% of additional time release] × ([Classroom Teacher Level 2, Range 4 classification salary] + [School on-costs]) × [FTE])

Graduate teachers – Cohort 3

(0.116 [% of additional time release] × ([Classroom Teacher Level 1, Range 5 classification salary] + [School on-costs]) × [FTE])

Mentor teachers (Cohorts 2 and 3)

(0.05 [% of additional time release] × ([Level 2, Range 6 classroom teacher salary] + [School on-costs]))

Funds will be transferred to schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) as a targeted initiative. Funding is allocated as credit funding.

2023 dates: SRP allocation

• Up until 1 March 2023: Confirmed Budget Cycle (March)
• Up until 26 May 2023: Revised Budget Cycle (June)
• Up until 1 December 2023: Additional Budget Cycle – Term 4 (December)

Further information

For further information contact graduate.induction@education.vic.gov.au or visit Career Start – transforming the first years of the teaching career.

Secondary Mathematics and Science Initiative (Reference 133)

The Secondary Mathematics and Science Initiative (SMSI) has been developed to help address current workforce challenges in the teaching of mathematics and science in secondary schools.

As part of the 2023–24 Victorian State Budget, the government provided $10.1 million for the Secondary Science, Technologies and Mathematics (SSTM) initiative to address out-of-field teaching in the STEM disciplines. This included funding for a third intake of the Secondary Science and Mathematics Initiative (SMSI).

Teachers who are currently teaching out‐of‐field will be supported to become ‘in-field’ by 2025 by undertaking a two-year graduate certificate over 2023 and 2024 in mathematics or science education.

Eligibility

Schools with the following school type are eligible for the Secondary Mathematics and Science Specialists Initiative at school level:

• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary Combined
• Language
• Special

Funding is calculated at the Confirmed and Revised budget cycles and provided through credit funding.

Calculation

Funding Allocation = Number of participating teachers × (0.1 × Level 2–6 salary + school on‐costs). This totals to $13,268 per year in 2023 and 2024 for each participating teacher.

Outside School Hours Care Establishment Grant Initiative (Reference 134)

The Outside School Hours Care Establishment Grant Initiative (the Initiative) will support schools that have not previously had outside school hours care (OSHC) to establish new OSHC services, or to expand existing OSHC services to meet community need.

The Initiative prioritises schools which meet the following 4 priority categories:

• Priority 1: Schools in areas with limited or no OSHC services.
• Priority 2: Schools where services are unlikely to be viable without grant funding.
• Priority 3: Schools with disadvantaged student cohorts AND schools with demonstrated readiness to commence services
• Priority 4: Schools with existing OSHC services that demonstrate a need to expand existing service provision.

The program is broken into 4 rounds over 4 financial years.

Schools may use the funds to cover costs associated with initially providing access to OSHC services for students and operational expenses over the lifetime of the funding. The funding will allow services that may not initially be financially viable to expand and work towards ongoing viability over the grant period.

Accountability

Schools are responsible for using the funds within the guidelines provided by the department. School principals will be required to complete an acquittal process once per year for each year of funding received, demonstrating that the funds were used for expenditure within the Initiative’s guidelines.

Eligibility

Interested schools will apply for the funding using a form on the SmartyGrants online portal, which will be available when round 4 is launched during 2023. Further advice will be provided closer to the launch. All Victorian government schools which provide primary aged or special education to children, and who either do not have an OSHC service at the time of application, or do not offer all three types of care (before school care, after school care and vacation care) are eligible to apply. This includes primary schools, combined primary/secondary schools, and specialist schools.

Funding

The maximum amount of funding offered is $75,000 per year per applicant school, except where the school is applying on behalf of a cluster of schools, in which case the maximum is $75,000 times the number of school sites involved in the cluster. In a cluster arrangement, one school establishes the service, with nearby schools able to access it on an equal footing. Schools or clusters may apply up to the maximum amount if they have proposed expenditure to that amount which meets the Initiative guidelines. In order to be eligible for the increased funding cap, all cluster schools must meet the grant eligibility requirements.

Special schools are eligible for an additional $30,000. Schools in areas designated as Outer Regional or Remote are eligible for an additional $25,000.

Funding allocations are 100% Cash funding.

Use of Initiative funding

School principals will consider the context of their school and the needs of the school community to determine the best use of the funding. A school may decide to use the funding to establish an OSHC service run by the school council, engage a third party provider to operate a new service, or provide transport to enable children to access OSHC at an already operating service. New services may be established at the school or at external premises.

Examples of eligible expenditure include:

• staffing
• training and professional development
• program management and administration
• resources and/or equipment
• minor facility upgrades
• transport
• food
• programs/activities to attract or retain enrolments.

Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow Programs (Reference 135)

Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow (TTTT) programs seek to boost the supply of teachers in Victorian government secondary and specialist schools, particularly in outer-metropolitan, rural and remote locations and in priority subject areas. The department is working in partnership with the following Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers to attract and train local teachers:

• Australian Catholic University (ACU)
• Deakin University
• Federation University
• Nexus (La Trobe University)
• RMIT
• Teach For Australia (ACU)
• Victoria University
• the University of Melbourne.

The TTTTT programs provide teaching students with paid employment in Victorian government secondary and specialist schools as education support staff or teaching paraprofessionals while they complete their postgraduate teaching degree. Teaching students either study intensively for 6 to 12 months and then work in classrooms as they finish their studies, or work in classrooms throughout their studies.

Teach Today program students receive a $2,400 department scholarship for the initial intensive study period.

Teach Tomorrow program students receive a $15,000 department scholarship while they study for the first 6 to 12 months.

Any Teach Today or Teach Tomorrow students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander will also receive an additional $15,000 department scholarship to support them during the program.

Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow students who relocate to a rural or regional school for the employment element of the program may also be eligible for a $2,000 relocation incentive to assist with relocation costs.

CRT payments will be allocated directly to participating schools at a rate of 6 CRT days per participating student teacher to support the host school in releasing the mentor teacher from the classroom to spend time mentoring the participating student during their employment.

Targeted school support funding is available to eligible schools interested in hosting a student to mitigate financial barriers. Approximately $31,000 will be provided to eligible schools facing budget constraints, level of hard-to-staff and consultation with the relevant regional office.

Refer to: Employment-Based Degrees: Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow Programs.

Eligibility

• Secondary Schools
• P-12 Schools (only the secondary component of the school)
• Specialist Schools

Specifically, schools must be hosting students as part of this program to be eligible for this allocation.

Secondary (including primary/secondary) and specialist schools that are hosting students participating in the Australian Catholic University (ACU), Deakin University, Federation University, Nexus, RMIT, Teach For Australia, Victoria University, and the University of Melbourne in Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow programs.

Funding will be allocated in instalments in March (confirmed) and August (indicative cycle) through credit and cash funding and is calculated by the program area.

Rates

Scholarship rates

• Teach Today program students receive a $2,400 department scholarship.
• Teach Tomorrow program students receive a $15,000 department scholarship.
• Any Teach Today or Teach Tomorrow students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander will also receive an additional $15,000 department scholarship.

CRT rates

CRT payments will be allocated directly to participating schools at a rate of 6 CRT days per participating student teacher to support the host school in releasing the mentor teacher from the classroom to spend time mentoring the participating student during their employment. CRT rate will be the ministerial rate.

Targeted support payments

Targeted school support funding is available to eligible schools interested in hosting a student to mitigate financial barriers. Approximately $31,000 will be provided to eligible schools facing budget constraints, level of hard-to-staff and consultation with the relevant regional office.

Relocation expenses

Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow students who relocate to a rural or regional school for the employment element of the program may also be eligible for a $2,000 relocation incentive to assist with relocation costs.

Please note the allocations do not include payroll tax and superannuation and will not attract these charges in the SRP Budget Management report.

Further Information

Teach the Future website

The Program team: teach.today.teach.tomorrow@education.vic.gov.au

Inclusion Outreach Coaching Initiative (Reference 136)

Background and context

In 2021 the Department of Education (the department) announced a number of initiatives including the Inclusion Outreach Coaching (IOC) initiative, to support school and department workforces to build their capabilities in inclusive practices. These initiatives were part of a state wide Disability Inclusion Reform to support schools to ensure that students of all need feel welcomed and thrive.

The IOC initiative will roll out by area from 2021 to 2025 (refer to Disability Inclusion Funding and Support for further information) with a full time IOC coach being employed in every ‘base’ registered specialist school (base school) and ‘partnering’ with mainstream schools (partner school). IOC coaches are employed at a Learning Specialist classification (please see Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists for further information) to ensure they have the leadership experience and contextual understanding of schools to provide strategically coordinated capability building opportunities to mainstream schools, including whole-of-school training, in-class coaching and individual teacher support to build inclusive school cultures.

A regional workforce provides each coach with operational and strategic support and acts as the conduit between the coach and the base and partner schools; particularly in the recruitment of coaches in base schools and the facilitation of the coaches’ engagement with partner schools. A mentor can also be appointed by the base school principal to support the coach in their connections and linkages between and amongst schools and to support an aligned build of inclusive practices in the area.

A team of implementation specialists from Inclusive Education support the school and regional workforces to effectively deliver best practice approaches to inclusive education and wellbeing and to lead effective policy and program implementation which enables access to high quality education services.

SRP funding allocation

Credit allocation to recruit an IOC coach

Base schools about to enter a rollout year will automatically be provided SRP credits as part of their indicative funding to support the recruitment of a full- time ongoing IOC coach. The credit allocation is calculated at the annualised mid-point of a Learning Specialist Level 3-1 and 3-2 (plus school oncosts which cover a school’s liability for payroll tax and superannuation) as per the VGSA 2022 Agreement.

For the 2023 calendar year: each school will receive $142,241 (FTE).

(Please see Student Resource Package — Targeted Initiatives: Inclusion Outreach Coaching (IOC) initiative (Reference 136) and Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 (PDF) for further information.

If circumstances require the recruitment of a new coach part way through the year and an SRP allocation was not provided as part of a base school’s indicative SRP budget, then this will be indexed on a pro rata basis depending on what time of year the coach commences employment. For example, if a coach commences in Term 2, then an SRP allocation of 50% of the full allocation will be provided.

Cash allocations to support the travel allowance requirements of an IOC coach

IOC coaches are required to travel from their base specialist school to partner non-specialist schools, regional offices, and other department locations and workplaces to support their coaching role. To contribute to the costs associated with this, the department will provide each base school with cash SRP allocations.

For the 2023 calendar year:

• rural schools will receive $3,900 (which equates to 5,000 km of travel per coach)
• metropolitan schools will receive $2,340 (which equates to 3,000 km of travel per coach).

These allocations will be rolled out in quarterly allotments, at the start of each Term.

These figures are based on the current maximum Australian Tax Office allowable claim of 5,000 km per year at a rate of $0.78 per kilometre. (Please see Travel and Personal Expenses — Teaching Service and Car and travel expenses 2018 (ATO) for further information).

Questions, comments, feedback

Please contact inclusion.outreach.coaching@education.vic.gov.au if you have any further questions.

School Mental Health Fund (Reference 139)

In response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (Royal Commission), the 2021-22 Victorian State Budget provided $200 million over 4 years and $86.85 million ongoing to create a new Schools Mental Health Fund (Fund). The Fund provides additional resources to government schools to support and further promote student mental health and wellbeing.

The Fund provides schools with funding to strengthen school-wide capacity and capability to improve students’ mental health and wellbeing. An evidence-based Menu underpins the Fund to give schools confidence in purchasing programs and interventions that will meet their students’ needs. Schools are required to spend their Fund allocation on items listed on the Menu.

The Fund was rolled out to all government regional and rural schools from Term 3 2022, and will reach all government metropolitan schools by 2024.

For further information on the School Mental Health Fund refer to: Mental Health Fund and Menu.

Eligibility

The Fund will be rolled out to government schools based on area between 2022 and 2024, with rural and regional schools prioritised, in line with the Royal Commission’s findings.

In Term 3, 2022, schools in Barwon, Central Highlands, Goulburn, Inner Gippsland, Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, Outer Gippsland, Ovens Murray, Wimmera South West started receiving their Fund allocation.

In Term 1, 2023, schools in Brimbank Melton, North Eastern Melbourne, Outer Eastern Melbourne, Southern Melbourne started receiving their Fund allocation.

Schools in Bayside Peninsula, Hume Merri-bek, Inner Eastern Melbourne, Western Melbourne will start receiving their Fund allocation in Term 1, 2024.

Note: Camp/outdoor schools and Parkville College are not eligible to receive the Fund.

Calculation

Funding will be allocated as credit (70%) and cash (30%). School on-cost rates (superannuation and payroll tax) are applied to the credit proportion.

All schools start with a base allocation amount of $25,000.

Regional and rural loading

All regional and rural schools receive an extra loading (10%).

Small school threshold

• All schools with 200 students or less will get the base allocation
• A per student rate will apply above 200 students

Enrolments used to calculate the Fund will be updated at each SRP cycle (Indicative to reflect principal enrolment projections, Confirmed to reflect February census enrolment and Revised to reflect audited enrolments).

Large school threshold

A slightly lower per student rate will apply above the large school threshold number of students:

• Primary: 600 students
• Secondary: 1,200 students
• Primary/Secondary: 900 students
• Other: 600 students

Rate

• Per student rate starts to apply above 200 students
• The model has tailored rates for primary and secondary, responding to the Royal Commission’s call for more primary support

Casual Relief Teacher Travel Fund (Reference 141)

The Casual Relief Teacher (CRT) Travel Fund has been implemented to attract more CRTs to rural and regional schools. Funding is being allocated to identified schools experiencing difficulty attracting CRTs in 2023 and 2024. Eligible schools can use this funding as an incentive to attract CRTs to their school for extended periods, paid as a special payment. Schools considering offering a special payment to attract CRTs will be able to pay a lump sum of a minimum of $925 to a maximum of $10,000 per annum.

Eligibility criteria for recipients of the funding

An analysis was completed by the department that measures workforce challenges, including remoteness, Student Family Occupation and Education (SFOE), low application rate, no appointment rate and school climate which is the basis of the allocated funding to the identified schools. The funding amount distributed to individual schools is calculated by the number of students in each school and the average class size.

The listed schools include:

• Primary schools
• Secondary schools
• Primary/Secondary schools
• Special schools

Funding

The funding is given to schools through the SRP’s targeted initiatives funding stream and is allocated as cash funding. The CRT Travel Fund payment will be:

• directly paid to the agency that has supplied the CRT or
• paid through a special payment directly via eduyPay to the CRT employed by school council as a one-off lump sum.

Contact

Enquiries relating to the CRT Travel Fund should be directed to: swg_policy.initiatives@education.vic.gov.au

Active Schools (Reference 142)

The Active Schools initiative aims to ensure that all Victorian students have the skills, confidence and motivation to be active in life.

Active Schools Grants ($30,000) aim to help implement a whole-school approach to improving physical activity and supporting students to be more active. Grant funds may be used for infrastructure or equipment, staff professional development, or engagement with physical activity programs and providers.

Active Schools Physical Education (PE) and Sport Funding Boosts ($3,000) aim to support schools with the costs of physical education, sport and outdoor education. Schools are encouraged to consider innovative ways this funding can be used to encourage an increased uptake of physical activity in their school. Schools may elect to use this funding to boost their physical education or sports budget or spend the funding on items such as outdoor education, bike storage or playground improvements.

Active Schools Extracurricular Boosts ($14,000) aim to support secondary schools with the costs of providing extracurricular physical activity opportunities. Funding may be spent on the cost of running sporting, recreational or physical activity programs either before or after school or during break times. This may include engaging the community or private providers to run programs or paying for casual relief teachers to enable the school to run programs.

Further detail on what funds can be used for is detailed on Active schools.

Funds cannot be used for:

• purchase of IT equipment
• school staff salaries
• items not related to improving physical activity outcomes.

Funding will be distributed through the Student Resource Package.

Eligibility

• Active Schools grants: $30,000 will be awarded to 100 primary, secondary and specialist schools in 2023 and 2024 following a competitive grant process open for each year to eligible schools in communities experiencing social disadvantage. Eligibility to apply is based on SFOE and applications are assessed against the Active Schools Framework and on how the school will implement activities to strengthen its current approach to student physical activity. There are 25 grants available in each region.
• Active Schools PE and Sport Boost: $3,000 for 300 government primary, secondary, Primary/Secondary, language and specialist schools in 2023 and 2024 in communities experiencing social disadvantage based on SFOE ranking state-wide, which can be used to support schools with the cost of PE and sport and outdoor education.
• Active Schools Extracurricular Boost: $14,000 for 200 government secondary, Primary/Secondary, language and specialist schools in 2023 and 2024 in communities experiencing social disadvantage based on SFOE ranking state-wide, which can be used by schools to support the costs of providing extracurricular activities.

Rates

• Active Schools grants: $30,000 for each eligible school.
• Active Schools PE and Sport Boost: $3,000 for each eligible school.
• Active Schools Extracurricular Boost: $14,000 for each eligible school.

Related policies

Physical and Sport Education – Delivery Requirements

Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students (Reference 143)

Program description

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Delivered to School Students (VDSS) is a key component of the Victorian Government's strategy to support high-quality vocational pathways, increase student retention, and improve Year 12 or equivalent completion rates by providing options for all students.

VET studies can contribute towards the completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).

The core learning allocation in the Student Resource Package (SRP) provided to schools for each student is the primary source of funding for VET programs. Government schools are also provided with targeted VET funding to support the higher cost of provision in this area.

Components of VET funding

There are 4 components of VET funding:

• the Core student learning component (mainstream schools) or Stages of Learning funding (specialist schools) of the SRP
• targeted VET funding
• VET materials funding
• small-scale adjustment.

SRP Core Student Learning or Core Stages of Learning components

The Core Student Learning component or Stages of Learning funding of the SRP is provided to schools to offset the costs of VDSS.

In 2023, the Core SRP component that a mainstream school will receive to support the delivery of VET is $1,229, per full time equivalent (FTE) certificate enrolment.

For specialist schools, with students participating in eligible VET certificates, the Stages of Learning component that a school will receive to contribute to support the delivery of VET is $1,003, per FTE certificate enrolment.

A Full Time Equivalent (FTE) enrolment in an eligible VET course is defined as 180 hours of training per year. This will attract the full per certificate amount. Enrolments of less than 180 hours of training in a year will attract pro-rata funding.

* CUA30915 Certificate III in Music Industry, for which a FTE enrolment is a minimum of 360 hours.

Targeted VET funding

Targeted VET funding is based on a 6-band model and is allocated pro-rata for enrolments up to 180 hours per VET certificate per year.

To attract targeted VET funding, schools must enter accurate details of all VET enrolments on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) by the annual funding deadline, which in 2023 is 2 May.

Students between 15 to 20 years of age at the annual funding deadline, who are enrolled in eligible VET certificates, will be eligible for targeted VET funding.

Certificate II and Certificate III level qualifications (excluding school-based apprenticeships and traineeships and Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships) undertaken as part of the VCE are eligible for targeted VET funding.

Certificate IV qualifications may be funded, provided the school has first gained approval from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) to offer the higher-level qualification to VCE students.

Further information and an indicative list of VET qualifications eligible for targeted VET funding is available at: VET Delivered to School Students: Resources.

Targeted VET funding is NOT available for enrolments in:

• Certificate I qualifications
• certificates in General Education for Adults and generalist programs such as Certificate II in EAL (Employment) and Certificate II in EAL (Access)
• diploma level qualifications. Schools wishing to provide Diplomas may fund this delivery from the core SRP allocation
• school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, or Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships.

A student who is enrolled in a school, either full-time or part-time, and also enrolled independently of their school in a VET program at a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation (RTO), is not eligible to have their VET studies subsidised through targeted VET funding.

VET materials funding

In 2023, a two-band VET materials funding model will be implemented (high-cost materials funding band and low-cost materials funding band). The level of funding received will be based on VET enrolments, and payments will be received as quarterly cash grants through the Student Resource Package (SRP).

Each VET enrolment will be allocated $250 for certificates that sit within the low-cost materials funding band and $450 for those that sit within the high-cost materials funding band.

For further information on VET materials funding, visit Vocational Education and Training (VET) Delivered to School Students.

Small-scale adjustment

From 2023, eligible schools will receive a small-scale adjustment based on their total Years 7 to 12 enrolments. The funding is provided for schools that do not have the scale of student enrolments to offset VDSS costs.

Schools with 200 or fewer students will receive additional funding, for up to 15 VDSS FTE enrolments, at either the equivalent SRP Core component value (mainstream schools) or Core Stages of Learning component value (specialist schools).

Schools with enrolments between 201 and 400 students receive a pro-rata allocation. Schools with enrolments greater than 400 will not be eligible for this funding.

Implementation of the model in 2023

There will be a funding floor for schools impacted by a reduction in the certificate band funding for VET programs offered in 2023. This is to minimise the disruption to school planning and ensure all schools receive at least the same level of funding they would have received under the 2022 model.

We encourage schools to review the revised funding model for VDSS and VET materials and determine impacts on their school and potential implications for their VET programs.

Online budget planner

The SRP Planner has been enhanced to enable schools the capacity to model VDSS enrolment scenarios to assess funding outcomes.

The tool will allow administrators to input certificate types and enrolments and receive a breakdown of estimated funding for 2023.

The tool aims to improve schools’ understanding of the funding streams available for VDSS and to support better financial planning.

Funding formula

The funding allocation to support the provision of VET comprises:

Eligible FTE certificate enrolments × Funding level (Core SRP component + Targeted VET funding) (for students aged from 15 years to 20 years inclusive at annual VET enrolment deadline on VASS)

Plus:

Small-scale adjustment (Eligible VDSS FTE enrolments (up to 15 FTE) × Small-scale adjustment rate (where total Year 7-12 enrolments ≤ 400).

Rates

The following band rates have been used to determine allocations for Terms 3 and 4 of 2023 as per confirmed enrolments on VASS.

Small-scale adjustment rates

Mainstream schools: Maximum rate is $1,299 per enrolment capped at 15 enrolments for eligible schools with up to 200 students. For schools with enrolments between 201 and 400 students, the rate reduces by $6.11 per student.

Special schools: Maximum rate is $1,003 per enrolment capped at 15 enrolments for eligible schools with up to 200 students. For schools with enrolments between 201 and 400 students, the rate reduces by $4.99 per student.

The amount of funding received in Terms 1 and 2 will be based on enrolment figures from 2022. This funding amount will be adjusted accordingly pending VASS deadline enrolment figures.

Schools who have not offered VET programs prior to 2023 will receive their first payment, 75% of the annual funding amount, in Term 3.

It is important for schools to correctly enter enrolments on VASS by the due date, including the certificate title, units of competency, and hours, as there is no capacity to provide funding to schools that have not entered VET enrolments on VASS at all or have entered them with incorrect information.

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships

A student enrolled in a VET qualification through a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT) is funded under Skills First and is not eligible for targeted VET funding. For assessment purposes, students undertaking VET as part of an SBAT are still able to gain credit towards completion of their senior secondary certificate. Further information on SBATs is available at: School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Head Start

From 2023, the Victorian government will be expanding the Head Start program to all government secondary schools. Head Start provides an innovative approach that encourages students to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship with high-quality Certificate III qualifications in priority industries as part of their senior secondary studies. Like all SBATs, Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships are funded through Skills First.

School VET fees and charges

VET programs are considered standard curriculum and therefore government schools must provide VET tuition free of charge. Government schools can no longer request payments from parents for essential learning materials for VET studies.

Use of targeted VET funding

Targeted VET funding allocated to support VET provision can be used for a range of purposes.

This may include:

• a contribution towards the purchase of delivery
• a contribution towards teacher professional development and training
• costs associated with registering as an RTO
• program planning
• purchase of curriculum materials, and
• costs associated with the transition to new training packages.

Contractual arrangements between schools and VET providers

Schools entering into arrangements with RTOs must use the appropriate department template and have a valid, signed Contract or Agreement.

The available standard contracts and agreements are: Standard VET purchasing contract, Standard VET Auspicing contract, School to school VET purchasing agreement, and School to school VET access agreement.

The templates have been designed for the specific use of government schools purchasing services from RTOs and are not recommended for use by other parties. Use of the templates by other parties is subject to the department’s copyright licensing arrangements (detailed at the base of the website’s landing page).

For more information on guidelines for the delivery of VET to secondary school students and the template Contracts and Agreements refer to: Purchasing Secondary Courses and Vocational Training from External Providers.

Timing of payments to schools

Government schools are provided with targeted funding for every eligible VET certificate enrolment provided they have entered the certificates, units and hours for each VET enrolment on VASS no later than annual VET funding deadline. Payments are made in the quarterly cash grant through the Student Resource Package (SRP), as per the schedule details below.

Professional development for newly appointed VASS users

In the early part of each year, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) conducts professional development training specifically designed for VASS administrators who are new to their position or who have never used VASS, and new schools offering a VCE or VET program for the first time.

Any queries related to VASS Operations should be directed to the VCAA’s VASS Support team:

• Phone: 03 9032 1758 or 1800 623 681
• Email: vass.support@education.vic.gov.au

Resources

School student resource package (SRP) interactive site (staff login required)

To see budget and planner reports for principals and delegates, login to student resource package

Current SRP guidance

• 2024 student resource package indicative guide (PDF)
• 2024 student resource package indicative guide (DOCX)
• 2023 student resource package revised guide (PDF)
• 2023 student resource package revised guide (DOCX)

Senior secondary re-engagement

• Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• Late enrolment funding

Vocational education and training delivered to school students

TAFE Supplement Revised Modelling

Refugee and asylum seeker wellbeing supplement

Information sheet

Student Excellence Program Funding

• Student Excellence Program – Guide for School Leaders, January 2022 (PDF) (staff login required)
• Student Excellence Program – Guide for School Leaders, January 2022 (DOCX) (staff login required)

Primary Welfare

Primary Welfare Officers

Respectful Relationships

Respectful Relationships

Head Start

Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships

Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support

Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support Initiative

VCE Revision Lectures

VCE Revision Lectures (staff login required)