The Australian Government provides funds to help schools in the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors undertake capital works.

Australian Government funds allocated to the South Australian Independent sector are administered by the SA Independent Schools Block Grant Authority Inc (BGA), which is an incorporated body established by the Association of Independent Schools SA for the purpose of making recommendations to the Australian Government Minister on capital grants to the State’s Independent schools.

The BGA operates under a legal agreement with the Australian Government requiring compliance with Australian Government guidelines and legislation. As a separately incorporated body the BGA does however operate independently of the normal responsibility and functioning of the AISSA.

All non-government, non-Catholic schools in South Australia are able to participate in the BGA, by entering into a Participation Agreement with the BGA.

The "Administrative Guidelines" and the “BER Program Guidelines” are available below for downloading below.

• investigation of the need for schools, buildings parts of buildings, other facilities or equipment
• the purchase of land, with buildings or parts of buildings, or in special circumstances, without buildings;
• the planning, erection, alteration extension, demolition (including asbestos removal) or refurbishment of a building, part of a building or other facility including student residential accommodation, and attached supervisors’ quarters;
• the development or preparation of land for building or other purposes;
• the installation or upgrading of water, electricity or any other services;
• the provision of furniture or equipment, including information technology equipment, which should be part of a broader capital project unless special circumstances exist;
• the provision of library materials and the goods for cataloguing a library; or
• payment to a Block Grant Authority for its administrative expenses.

• which have religious worship as a principal purpose;
  in a co-educational school where the facilities will not, as far as practicable, be equally available to male and female students at the school;
• which provide staff housing for non-government schools other than supervisors' quarters attached to student boarding facilities; or
• where retrospective approval is sought.

Powerpoint Presentation Handout from the 2010 Seminar below.