Funding

APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING

To apply for funding for Teaching and Learning Programs please CLICK HERE to access application forms.

Sources of Funding

On average, Australian governments (State and Commonwealth) spend around $10,756 a year per SA government school student compared to $5,786 per SA non-government school student. That means it costs taxpayers less to educate an SA student in an Independent school than to educate an SA student in a Government school. Independent school parents are a major source of funding for Independent schools. Parents (and the wider school community) contribute, on average, approximately 50% of their SA Independent school's operating income. In some schools this contribution is substantially higher. In Government schools, State Governments are the major source of funding, with approximately 94% of SA State Government funding for school education allocated to South Australian Government schools.

Australian Government Funding - Recurrent

The Australian Government funds non-government schools under the Schools Assistance Act 2008.

Australian Government recurrent funding for non-government schools is allocated on the basis of a school's SES score, which is calculated using ABS census data..

A range of accountability requirements are attached to the receipt of Australian Government funding. These are outlined in the Schools Assistance Act 2008, corresponding Regulations and funding agreements.

Australian Government Funding - Targeted

Australian Government funded programs are administered by the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA) and the SA Independent Schools Targeted Programs Authority Inc (SAISTPA).

Programs include:

National Partnerships
The Australian Government Quality Teacher Program (AGQTP)
The National School Drug Education Strategy (NSDES)
Values, Civics and Citizenship
Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Program
Engish as a Second Language - New Arrivals Program
Country Areas Program
Languages
Vocational Education
National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools.

Detailed information regarding the above programs can be found in the Teaching & Learning Area.

State Government Funding

The SA State Recurrent Grant for Non-Government schools incorporates a per capita allocation and a needs component.

Per capita funding is distributed at a rate of 1:1.39 (primary to secondary) based on the average enrolment of the school. In South Australia Yr 7 is defined as a primary year level. The needs component is allocated on the characteristics of the school and its students, collected on a yearly basis from each school.

In 2010 the State Government committed $36 million over four years (2010-2014) for students with specific educational disadvantage.

Accountability requirements for the receipt of the SA State Recurrent Grant are outlined in the State Funding Deed.

Block Grant Authority