Building Blocks Planning

APPLICATION WRITING TIPS

Building Blocks (Planning Stream) is a highly competitive funding program, and organisations need to ensure that their applications make a clear and convincing case and include the required supporting documentation to increase the chances of being successful.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

Refer to the Planning Guidelines and Assessment Factsheet and Application Checklist found on the VSBA website at Building Blocks Grants - Planning. These documents contain important information about eligibility and your grant application.

Please also read the Frequently Asked Questions.

TO SUPPORT YOUR APPLICATION

In addition to reading the Assessment Factsheet and Application Checklist found on the VSBA website at Building Blocks Grants - Planning and the Frequently Asked Questions, we strongly recommend that you:

• respond fully to each question on the application form and provide the required information, documentation and reports
• consider capability to deliver your proposed project within the specified 12 month period after execution of the Victorian Common Funding Agreement (VCFA)

ELIGIBILITY

Your organisation can apply if it is: 

• a Victorian local government (Council); 
• a not-for-profit community organisation that is a legal entity (for example an incorporated association, incorporated cooperative or Indigenous corporation); or 
• a Victorian non-government school registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority or Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. 

Victorian kindergarten providers with a funded kindergarten service(s) at the time of application are eligible to receive funding.

For-profit organisations cannot apply for any grant streams within Building Blocks, they are not eligible for funding.

Victorian government schools please contact the Kindergarten on School Sites team at KOSS@education.vic.gov.au  

If you have any queries about your grant application, contact the VSBA Early Childhood Grants team at building.blocks@education.vic.gov.au

• project management costs
• planning and design costs, such as:

• quantity surveyor fees and reports
• architect and design
• geo technical services
• feasibility studies
• town planning consultants
• planning permits
• soil contamination reports
• asbestos reports
• environmental sustainability assessments for energy and or water efficiency, e.g. NABERS and NatHERS

What cannot be funded

• costs already incurred
• site preparation, including clearing or demolition (these may be funded by a subsequent Building Block Grant)
• construction and commissioning (these may be funded by a subsequent Building Blocks Grant)
• landscaping and car parking (these may be funded by a subsequent Building Blocks Grant)
• site acquisition and lease costs
• ongoing administration or operational costs

Exclusions

The Building Blocks Planning Grant program will not fund planning for projects that:

• do not address unmet demand as identified in the relevant KISP
• do not intend to create additional capacity or maintain existing kindergarten capacity required for the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and/or Pre Prep
• are not for facilities that offer, or intend to offer, both Three and Four-Year-Old funded Kindergarten/Pre Prep programs
• are intended to be located outside Victoria
• do not align with the program objectives
• do not meet the requirements outlined in these guidelines
• do not meet the assessment criteria
• have already been invoiced or paid.