ACT Block Grant Authority

The ACT Block Grant Authority Incorporated (ACTBGA) is an incorporated, non-profit association established by non-government school organisations in the ACT. Its core purpose is to administer grant funding from the Australian and ACT Governments for non-government schools in the ACT.

ACTBGA will assess and distribute funding to schools, in accordance with agreed criteria set under the programs it administers.

 

Capital Grants Program

ACTBGA administers the Capital Grants Program (CGP) on behalf of the Australian Government, consistent with its responsibilities under the Australian Education Act 2013 (the Act) and CGP Guidelines.

This program provides capital grants to assist non-government primary and secondary school communities to improve capital infrastructure where they otherwise may not have access to sufficient capital resources.

The amount of funding provided by the Australian Government under this program varies each year, with the final allocation of $4,351,926 confirmed for the most recent program funding year in 2023.

The objectives of the Australian Government’s CGP are to:

  • Provide and improve school capital infrastructure, particularly for the most educationally disadvantaged students.
  • Ensure attention to refurbishment / upgrading of capital infrastructure for existing students, while making provision for needs arising from new demographic and enrolment trends.
  • Pursue the Commonwealth’s other priorities and objectives for schooling, as set out in the CGP Guidelines and updated from time to time.
  • Account for all capital funding provided under the Act to meet the expectations of auditors.
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Better School for Our Kids

The ACT Government has allocated $3,750,000 per year of grant funding over a period of four years to 2026, through the Better Schools for Our Kids: Non-Government School Infrastructure Upgrades Program (BSK).

The primary objective of the BSK program is to improve overall non-government school infrastructure for Preschool to Year 12 students in the Australian Capital Territory, including accessibility of services to disadvantaged groups.

This program provides funding to assist non-government preschool, primary and secondary school communities to improve capital infrastructure where they otherwise may not have access to sufficient capital resources.

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Other Major Grant Programs

Master Plan Grants Program

The Master Plan Grants Program (MGP) has been established by ACTBGA as an extension to the existing capital works grant program (CGP) offered by the Australian Government, for the 2024 funding year.

To encourage and support the sound educational planning of school sites, CGP funds have been made available under this program for non-government schools in the ACT to access a grant of up to $40,000 for the creation of a new, detailed capital infrastructure master plan, or to comprehensively review an existing master plan.

The operation of this program beyond the initial round in 2024 will depend on ACTBGA participant school uptake and available program funds; however, it is expected that this program may extend over 2025 and its continuation will be reviewed thereafter.

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Parent Engagement Grants Program

ACTBGA was commissioned by the ACT Government to administer the Non-Government School Parent Engagement Grants Program (PEP) on its behalf, over 2022 and 2023. This program sought to provide grants of up to $10,638 for projects that would assist non-government schools and/or their parent associations (also known as school councils, P & C or P & F associations) to increase parental engagement within school communities, strengthen parent associations and improve school partnerships with parents and families.

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Closed to New Applications

Trade Skills Centres in Schools Program

The Trade Skills Centres in Schools (TSC) program, formerly Trade Training Centres, was offered as part of the Australian Government’s Education Revolution.

The program commenced in 2008 to enable secondary schools to apply for funding of between $500,000 and $1.5 million for Trades Skills Centres.

The program allows secondary students from years 9 to 12 to access vocational education and training through TSCs to give them a broader range of options so as to improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance pathways into vocational careers.

TSCs also help to address national skills shortages in traditional trades and emerging industries.

For further information on the Trades Skills Centres program, visit Department of Education website.