To be eligible for to apply for funding via grant programs administered by the ACTBGA, a non-government school or system must first be a member, or prospective member, of the ACTBGA.
Application and Assessment
The ACTBGA is required by the Australian Government to assess the eligibility of all applications received against legislated guidelines.
Eligible projects will be considered for funding, based on the following:
- The relative educational disadvantage of the student population of the school, with a school’s CTC score being the primary indicator of financial need;
- The school has a current, detailed strategic plan, to support the master planning process;
- 2 or more quotes have been supplied from qualified architects, incorporating the scope requirements for an eligible master plan.
When considering or completing an application for grant funding under this program, prospective applicants should refer to the documents below for information on the program, application and assessment process.
- Information to Assist Applicants: View PDF
Capacity to Contribute (CTC)
- CTC Scores for Non-Government Schools: View XLSX
- Further information on CTC scores can be found on the Department of Education website here.
Should an independent school or the Catholic Education Office decide to apply for a master plan grant, they are invited to lodge an application outlining the proposed capital project and the circumstances of the school.
A copy of the application form and submission details can be requested from the ACTBGA office by emailing admin@actbga.org.au
It is anticipated that ACTBGA will submit grant recommendations under this program to the Australian Government Minister for Education in May 2024.
The Minister’s decision on funding of recommended MGP projects is expected to be announced in June or July 2024, with projects scheduled to commence and be completed over the second half of the year.
A school or system that has been approved for grant funding under MGP must adhere to particular administrative requirements when undertaking their projects, in accordance with the CGP Guidelines and relevant ACTBGA procedures.
Comprehensive checklists are published by the ACTBGA to guide a recipient school or system through administrative processes and forms that are required on projects successful for MGP funding.
- Successful Grant Application Checklist (MGP): please check back later for this document
Once a grant has been approved by the Australian Government, the ACTBGA will provide the successful applicant with a Letter of Offer and a Grant Acceptance Form which outlines their responsibilities with regard to the grant.
The Grant Acceptance Form should be signed and returned to the ACTBGA in a timely manner, confirming the recipient school or system agrees to the conditions of the grant.
Projects must not commence until approval has been received by the Australian Government and the school or system has returned the Grant Acceptance Form.
Once the school or system has signed a contract with the preferred provider and the project has commenced, a Notification of Contract Signing must be completed and sent to the ACTBGA.
- Notification of Contract Signing (Proforma): please check back later for this document
When a grant has been approved in accordance with the recipient’s submitted application forms, the school or system must seek ACTBGA approval prior to any changes to the project in respect of:
- Project Dates (Commencement and Completion)
- Total Project Cost
- Provider and/or Scope of Works
Approval must be sought through the submission of a Variation Request Form.
- Variation Request Form and Procedure: please check back later for this document
Important note: where the amount spent on the completion of the master plan is less than the approved total cost of the project, the ACTBGA will be obliged to withhold from the grant payment the difference between the total approved project cost and the actual expended amount (excl. GST).
The normal CGP requirements of proof of expenditure and an Accountant’s Certificate apply to MGP grants.
Grant recipients are required to have their master plan completed by 31 December in the year of funding approval.
Recieving Master Plan Grant Payments
Grant recipients will make a claim for the approved grant funds through the submission of a Master Plan Grant Claim Form, once the project can be declared 100% complete, in terms of value (i.e. all invoices relating to the work have been paid).
- Master Plan Grant Claim Form: please check back later for this document
The school’s claim for payment of the approved grant should, therefore, only be made when:
- The master planning process is 100% complete, as demonstrated by submission of evidence of project costs, such as invoices and/or ledger entries, with the claim form.
- The final master plan is provided to ACTBGA, with the claim documentation.
ACTBGA in unable to pay the approved grant amount until the above documentation is provided.
Project Acquittal
The school or system must organise for an independent accountant to complete the Accountant’s Certificate within three (3) months of receiving the final payment. Once this has been received by the ACTBGA, the project can be acquitted.
- Accountant’s Certificate: please check back later for this document
Recipient schools or systems must adhere to the CGP Guidelines regarding recognition of Australian Government assistance.
In relation to projects funded under MGP, a school or system must acknowledge the support of the Australian Government in any public event, media release, media coverage and all forms of documentation (including brochures and newsletters) relating to the project.
- Recognition Requirements: View PDF
The recipient school or system may be required to submit quarterly reporting to the ACTBGA in February, May, August and November, providing an update on the project status and documentation due.
The ACTBGA will email reporting templates required for completion.
To be confirmed upon completion of the current 2024 application assessment round.