Master Plan Grant Program

Summary
Forms & Procedures

Summary of Program

The ACTBGA administers the Capital Grants Program (CGP) for ACT non-government schools on behalf of the Australian Government, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Australian Education Act 2013 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 CGP Guidelines outline the scope, objectives and priorities of the program.  It should particularly be noted that Australian Government capital grants are intended only to supplement funds provided by the owners of the schools.  State and territory governments and non-government authorities have the primary responsibility for providing, maintaining and upgrading school facilities.

Master Plan Grant Program (MGP)

Schools applying for capital grant funding under CGP are required to have an acceptable master plan. The master plan represents the sound educational planning which is required to ensure that requests for grants are focused on development of educational facilities at the right time, in the right place for a school.

The MGP process has been established to provide schools with access to funding through CGP for the creation of a new, detailed master plan, or review of an existing master plan. The extension of CGP funding via a dedicated master plan grant program will support member schools to demonstrate a high standard of planning in the submission of future capital grant applications, and assist schools to meet the objectives of the CGP.

The availability of funding for school-based master planning purposes extends from Sections 8, 9, 37 d) and g), and 53 a) of the CGP Guidelines.

Eligibility for Funding

To be eligible to apply for grants for Australian Government capital funding under the MGP, a non-government school or its Approved Authority must:

  • be a member, or prospective member, of a BGA;
  • be in receipt of Recurrent Funding under the Australian Education Act 2013 (Recurrent Funding);
  • demonstrate to the BGA that the school has an appropriate maintenance plan in place and is able to meet the ongoing running costs of its facilities (or, for new schools, a proposed maintenance plan);
  • demonstrate to the BGA that adequate insurance is held over its existing school buildings.

Projects where a contract has already been entered into or where work has commenced for the proposed master plan work that is the subject of the grant application, prior to Ministerial approval being announced, will not be eligible for funding.

Maximum Grant Funding and Eligible Costs

The level of grant funding available under this program is between $20,000-$40,000, depending on the applicants CTC score.

Costs which may be included as part of the grant claim for an approved project include those related to:

  • The lead consultant, such as an architect;
  • secondary consultants required to contribute to the planning process, such as quantity surveyors, engineers (acoustic, electrical, civil, traffic, hydraulic),
  • landscape architects and fire professionals.

Master plan grants are not intended to contribute to any additional strategic planning related costs, required to complete the master planning process.

Further information on the MGP is available in the following document:

Information to Assist Applicants: View PDF