2025-26 Building Fund for Non-Government Schools - Independent Schools Round 3

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This is a preview of the 2025-26 Building Fund for Non-Government Schools Application Form - Independent form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

PART A: CAPITAL FUNDING APPLICATION

* indicates a required field.

Overview and available funding

This question is read only. 

The Government has committed $450 million to help build and upgrade low-fee catholic and independent schools across the state. This funding will be allocated over four grants rounds for independent schools.

The distribution of funding between the sector bodies will mean independent schools receive up to 30 per cent of this investment and $30 million is allocated to build and upgrade Islamic schools[1] (from the independent schools share of funding).

Funding is to support “low-fee” paying non-government schools. Low fee-paying schools are defined using an income per student value of $8,125 per year (indexed annually), or as otherwise decided by the Minister for Education. Schools should contact their sector bodies to determine whether they are eligible to apply for this fund or not.

Schools must provide evidence of the financial need for funding assistance under the program, through supporting documentation and response to merit assessment criteria. The evidence should outline schools do not have the capacity to meet the total cost of the project through cash reserves, borrowings and fund-raising.

 

[1] Registered as Islamic denomination with the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), or as agreed between the sector body and VSBA.

Eligibility

  An existing non-government school must:

  • Be registered with the Victorian Registration Qualifications Authority (VRQA).
  • Be a member, or prospective member, of the relevant Block Grant Authority.

To be considered for funding, new non-government schools must be able to demonstrate some certainty of successful establishment, operation and governance, in line with the relevant sector body's requirements.

Schools that meet the eligibility requirements and that are able to address the assessment criteria in the program guidelines are welcome to apply for funding under the Program.

Applications will be assessed against the program criteria. Recommendations for funding will be based on applications which best meet the criteria.

The program guidelines can be accessed on the Victorian School Building Authority website at: 

https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/building-fund-non-government-schools-independent

Is the school a member, or prospective member, of the Victorian Independent Schools Block Grant Authority? * Required

1. Contacts

School Name as provided by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). You can obtain the name from the State Register on the VRQA website, see https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/StateRegister/Search.aspx . For a new school, enter the proposed School Name.
Must be between 1 and 4 characters. For existing schools you can obtain the number from the State Register on the VRQA website, see https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/StateRegister/Search.aspx . For a new school, enter a dash (e.g. - ).
Address Line 1, Suburb/Town, State/Province, Postcode, and Country are required. Country must be Australia 
School Type * Required
Response required.
School Education Sector * Required
Response required.
Must be an Australian phone number. 
Must be an Australian phone number. 
Must be an email address. 
Must be an Australian phone number. 
Must be an Australian phone number. 
Must be an email address. 

2. Project Description

Provide a short description (100 words recommended) of your project - what are the key outcomes?
Response required.

NOTE: Schools applying for funding to address both capacity and condition of existing facilities should select the project type 'Combination expand capacity and upgrade facilities at existing school', in which case all criteria will be assessed.

3. Project Site

Must be between 1 and 6 characters. School Number (1234) Campus Number (01) School Campus Number (123401). School and Campus Number as provided by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). You can obtain the number from the State Register on the VRQA website, see https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/StateRegister/Search.aspx. For a new school or new campus, enter a dash (e.g. - ).
Campus Name as provided by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). You can obtain the name from the State Register on the VRQA website, see https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/StateRegister/Search.aspx. For a new school or new campus, enter the proposed Campus Name.
Do you have VRQA registration for the site of the proposed project? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Do you have VRQA registration for the site of the proposed project?" on page 1

If YES, which year levels: * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for If YES, which year levels:

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Do you have VRQA registration for the site of the proposed project?" on page 1

Must be a date. 
For which year levels are you planning to gain registration: * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for For which year levels are you planning to gain registration:

4. Ownership

Is the school or the Approved Authority the registered owner of the site? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Is the school or the Approved Authority the registered owner of the site?" on page 1

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Is the school or the Approved Authority the registered owner of the site?" on page 1

Is there an executed lease in place between the school and the land owner? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Is there an executed lease in place between the school and the land owner?" on page 1

Must be a date. 
Must be a date. 

5. Planning

Does the school have a planning permit for the proposed project? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Does the school have a planning permit for the proposed project?" on page 1

Must be a date. 

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Does the school have a planning permit for the proposed project?" on page 1

If NO, has a planning application been lodged with local council / Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "If NO, has a planning application been lodged with local council / Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)?" on page 1

Must be a date. 

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "If NO, has a planning application been lodged with local council / Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)?" on page 1

If NO, has the school contacted local council / Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) regarding a planning permit? * Required
Must be a date. 

6. Educational Need

Is this project identified as the next stage of development in the master plan? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Is this project identified as the next stage of development in the master plan?" on page 1

If NO, is this project identified as a future stage in the master plan? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "If NO, is this project identified as a future stage in the master plan?" on page 1

7. Project Timelines

Please provide the expected construction start and construction complete dates for your project below. These should include:

  • A time commitment indicating construction will begin within 12 months of announcement 
  • Completed within 18 months of commencement for projects in category 2.1.1 (building new schools or new campuses) and 2.1.2 (expanding capacity at existing schools)

OR

  • Within 12 months of commencement for projects in category 2.1.3 (upgrading facilities in existing schools) and 2.1.4 (planned removal of asbestos and/or cladding)

Approval may be sought for projects commencing more than 12 months from announcement in October 2025 OR to alter completion timelines.

Are you seeking approval to alter these timelines? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Are you seeking approval to alter these timelines?" on page 1

Must be a date and no earlier than 31/10/2025. 
Must be a date and no earlier than 31/10/2025. 

8. Funding Details

Must be a dollar amount. What is the total budgeted cost (dollars) of your project?
Must be a dollar amount. What is the total financial support you are requesting in this application?
This number/amount is calculated.