education.vic.gov.au

Policy last updated

26 June 2024

Scope

  • Schools
  • School councils

Date:
March 2020

Policy

Policy

This policy provides information about how funding is allocated to schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) for core student learning needs.

Details

Core student learning allocation funding is one of two types of student based funding. The other type of student based funding is Equity funding.

Student based funding represents the main funding source for all schools and comprises approximately 90% of the total SRP provided to schools. This funding is designed to cover core teaching and learning, leadership, teaching support, professional development, relief teaching, payroll tax and superannuation costs for the school.

The Core Student Learning Allocation is designed to recognise the differing costs associated with different levels of learning, different types and sizes of schools, and the additional costs imposed by rurality and isolation. The specific types of Core Student Learning Allocation funding are listed below.

The Guidance tab provides information about each of the specific types of Core Student Learning Allocation funding.

  • Student per capita funding Years Prep-12 Students
  • Enrolment Linked Base
  • Small School Base
  • Rural School Size Adjustment Factor
  • Core Index Stages 1-3
  • Size Adjustment Supplementation
  • Approved Early Education Program
  • Principal Salary Adjustment
  • Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program
  • Mental Health Practitioners
  • Camps Payment
  • Autism schools – stages of schooling
  • Autism schools – dual enrolment linked base
  • Deaf facility funding

Not all types of funding are available to all schools. Funding is assessed according to school or campus type and student need.

Schools are expected to use SRP funds for the purpose for which it was allocated.

For more general information on the SRP, please refer to the Student Resource Package — Overview page.

Other contacts

Mental Health

Email: mental.health.practitioners@education.vic.gov.au


Guidance

Guidance

The Core Student Learning Allocation is designed to recognise the differing costs associated with different levels of learning, different types and sizes of schools, and the additional costs imposed by rurality and isolation.

The funding items within this section are:

  • Student per capita funding Years Prep-12 Students
  • Enrolment Linked Base
  • Small School Base
  • Rural School Size Adjustment Factor
  • Core Index Stages 1-3
  • Size Adjustment Supplementation
  • Approved Early Education Program
  • Principal Salary Adjustment
  • Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program
  • Mental Health Practitioners
  • Camps Payment
  • Autism schools – stages of schooling
  • Autism schools – dual enrolment linked base
  • Deaf facility funding

Student per capita funding Years Prep-12 students (Reference 1)

Student per capita funding Years Prep-12 students (Reference 1)

In the Student Resource Package, the majority of funding provided to schools has been specified as per-student rates (i.e. in student per capita form).

Research conducted by The University of Melbourne has allowed the differing costs associated with delivering effective educational outcomes at the various levels of learning to be recognised by differing rates. The relativities are an initial assessment of the most effective way of allocating existing funds. These relativities may be adjusted over time through further research and a rolling benchmark process.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for the student per capita funding at campus level:

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Primary/Secondary Combined
  • Community
  • Training Center

The following campuses do not receive this allocation.

School numberCampus numberSchool name
35526Yarra Me School
62122Collingwood College
75952Bendigo Senior Secondary College
80032Lynall Hall Community School
80033Lynall Hall Community School
88513Wodonga Middle Years College
88908Charles La Trobe P-12 College
88909Charles La Trobe P-12 College
89171Centre for Higher Education Studies

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Calculation

Student per capita funding = Student enrolments (P-12) × Student price

Example: A campus with 62 Year 2 students would calculate their funding as 62 (Year 2 students) × Year 2 student price.

Rates 2024

Student per capita Years Prep to 12 studentsCredit ($)Cash ($)Total Student Price ($)
Prep to Year 18,8745469,420
Year 28,2665108,776
Years 3 to 6 (and Primary Ungraded)7,6094698,078
Years 7 to 12 Students (and Secondary Ungraded)10,05452510,579

Enrolment Linked Base (Reference 2)

Enrolment Linked Base (Reference 2)

The Enrolment Linked Base (ELB) is provided to ensure that all schools, regardless of size, have sufficient resources to operate effectively. The flat base with taper provides a safety net for small schools whose enrolments are insufficient to generate viable funding. The taper also recognises the economies of scale achievable in larger schools through per student rates.

The base is made up of a flat amount, adjusted by way of a per-student taper that reduces the allocation beyond certain thresholds.

For multi-campus colleges the formula is applied for each campus. To be eligible for multi-campus, each campus must be at least 1 km apart and not easily accessible.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for the Enrolment Linked Base funding at a campus level:

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Primary/Secondary Combined
  • Community
  • Training Center

The following campuses do not receive this allocation.

School numberCampus numberSchool name
35526Yarra Me School
62122Collingwood College
75952Bendigo Senior Secondary College
80032Lynall Hall Community School
80033Lynall Hall Community School
88513Wodonga Middle Years College
88908Charles La Trobe P-12 College
88909Charles La Trobe P-12 College
89171Centre for Higher Education Studies
77571Croydon Community School

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Calculation

Enrolment Linked Base Funding = Base + (Enrolment × Taper)

  • Refer to the matching school type configuration from the options below.
  • The base is fixed up to an enrolment threshold. Above this level, the per student taper is applied, until the base amount is exhausted.

Example: A primary campus with 600 enrolments would calculate their funding as: Primary base + [100 (enrolment >500) × Primary taper]

Rates 2024

ELB appliedCredit ($)Cash ($)Total ($)
Primary (including hub/annex)70,0243,57873,602
Secondary583,21828,125611,343
P-9, P-10 and P-12612,47632,507644,983
P-8 (=0.5 × P-12 Base)306,23816,253.50322,491.50
Sec-Split Site (=1.5 × Sec Base)874,82742,187.50917,014.50
Split Site P-12 (=1.5 × P-12 Base)918,71448,761.50967,475.50

Regular Enrolment Linked Base TaperCredit ($)Cash ($)Total ($)
Primary Taper >500 Per student reduction−187.08−9.54−196.62
Secondary and Sec-Split Site Taper >400 Per student reduction−499.72−24.11−523.83

The following campus configurations P-8, P-9, P-10, P-12 and Split Site P-12 – use Primary and Secondary tapers.


Small School Base (Reference 3)

Small School Base (Reference 3)

A Small School Base is provided to primary schools with less than 80.1 students and secondary schools with less than 400 students.

For primary schools, the base reduces as enrolments increase. For multi-site primary schools, the base and taper is applied for each site.

For secondary schools, the base is a flat amount up to 110 enrolments after which it reduces as enrolments increase. For multi-campus colleges, the base and taper is applied for each campus.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for the Small School Base funding at a campus level:

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Primary/Secondary Combined
  • Community
  • Training Center

The following campuses do not receive this allocation.

School numberCampus numberSchool name
35526Yarra Me School
62122Collingwood College
75952Bendigo Senior Secondary College
80032Lynall Hall Community School
80033Lynall Hall Community School
88513Wodonga Middle Years College
88908Charles La Trobe P-12 College
88909Charles La Trobe P-12 College
89171Centre for Higher Education Studies
89165Parkville College

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Calculation

Small School Base (Primary where enrolment is less than 80.1) = Primary base + (Primary enrolment × Taper)

Small School Base (Secondary where enrolment is less than 400) = Secondary base + [(Secondary enrolment − 110) × Taper]

Example: A secondary campus with 300 enrolments would calculate their funding as: Secondary base + [(300 − 110) × Secondary taper]

Rates 2024

Small School Adjustment BaseCredit ($)Cash ($)Total ($)
Primary65,4242,53867,962
Secondary169,7318,787178,518
Small School Adjustment TaperCredit ($)Cash ($)Total ($)
Primary−534.99−13.27−548.26
Secondary−585.30−30.30−615.60

Rural School Size Adjustment Factor (Reference 4)

Rural School Size Adjustment Factor (Reference 4)

This funding line recognises that small rural schools require additional resources to provide a high-quality education that is equal to that of schools in urban areas.

Funding is provided to eligible primary schools, secondary schools and combined schools that are situated in non-metropolitan and non-provincial locations.

Allocations are determined at campus level using a per student rate. The per student rate is split into credit and cash and contains provisions for payroll tax, superannuation, relief teaching and professional development.

Eligibility

Campuses with the following campus type, enrolments and location are eligible for RSAF funding.

Campus type:

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Primary/Secondary Combined
  • Community.

Enrolments:

  • less than or equal to 200 Primary enrolments
  • less than or equal to 500 Secondary enrolments.

Locations:

  • Outside the 'Major Cities of Australia' Remoteness Area category, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with reference to the 2016 Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA).
  • Outside provincial locations with more than 20,000 population, as defined by the ABS Urban Centres and Localities (UCL). Using ABS 2016, campuses in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton-Mooroopna, Warrnambool, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Traralgon are ineligible.

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Calculation

Allocation = Primary enrolments × Primary per student rate + Secondary enrolments × Secondary per student rate

Note:

  • The rates for each enrolment level are provided in the Rurality Rates spreadsheet (XLSX)External Link .
  • Enrolments are rounded down to the nearest whole number to identify the relevant per student rate. The actual campus enrolments are applied to the per student rate to determine the allocation.

Other relevant information

It is intended that location measures will be updated with the release of new ABS data every 5 years. The last ABS data survey was completed in August 2021. The result of this will be applied in the future releases post-2024. Funding for school year 2024 is based on ARIA 2016.

ARIA+ is a continuous index, which the ABS uses to define the Remoteness Area categories, including: Major Cities of Australia, Inner Regional Australia, Outer Regional Australia, Remote Australia and Very Remote Australia. These categories of remoteness are based on a measure of relative access to services. Further information can be found at Defining Remoteness AreasExternal Link .

More information about UCL definitions and sourcesExternal Link can be found on the ABS website.

To determine a campus’s Remoteness Area category and UCL boundary, use the ABS map toolExternal Link .

To determine a school’s geographic parameters, refer to Steps to determine a school’s geographic parameters (DOCX)External Link .

Peri-urban funding from 2024

The implementation of the location changes in 2021 affected schools in peri-urban areas. Substantial urban growth has meant that some schools that were once identified as rural, are now part of major city areas as identified through the ARIA.

Schools located between the Urban Centres and Localities (UCL) boundary and the ABS metropolitan Melbourne boundary according to Remoteness Areas are eligible to receive 50% of the RSAF allocation from 2022.

Current schools in receipt of rural transition and eligible for peri-urban funding will transition to peri-urban funding in 2024. If the peri-urban allocation is less than the scaled transition in 2024, the higher allocation will prevail.

Schools in receipt of rural transition and have been designated as peri-urban have been contacted individually.

Additionally, schools that may be eligible for transition should refer to: Transition Funding (Rural) (Reference 126)


Core Index Stages 1–3 (Reference 5)

Core Index Stages 1–3 (Reference 5)

Core Index Stages 1–3 provides funding to specialist schools for eligible and approved enrolments based on a student's age range.

Eligibility

The following school/campus types receive the Core Index funding at school level:

  • Specialist Schools
  • Special campuses of mainstream schools

The following campuses/schools do not receive this allocation:

  • Deaf facilities attached to mainstream schools
  • Training Centre campuses
  • Hospital schools and campuses
  • Victorian College For the Deaf
  • Aurora School

Funding is calculated at the Indicative and Confirmed budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Calculation

Core Index allocations are determined based on census student enrolment details.

Core Index allocation = Census student enrolments × Stage funding rate

Example: A school with 10 stage 2 enrolments would calculate their Stage 2 funding as:

Stage 2 enrolments (10) × Stage 2 rate. This is repeated for all stages dependent on school enrolments.

Rates 2024

StageAge Range (at 1 January)Credit ($)Cash ($)Total ($)
15 to 1010,02682810,854
211 to 167,4456788,123
317 to 188,0857278,812

Notes

Specialist school enrolment eligibility and regional approval needs to be established for each student.

If it is deemed appropriate, a regional director has the discretion and the authority to approve the enrolment of a student that does not meet the specialist school’s enrolment criteria.

For the Indicative budget cycle, total enrolments are sourced from the Principal Projections and distributed by existing age profiles. If Principal Projections totals are not provided, existing totals will be rolled over.

For the Confirmed budget cycle, total enrolments are sourced from the February Census.


Size Adjustment Supplementation (Reference 6)

Size Adjustment Supplementation (Reference 6)

The Size Adjustment Supplementation applies to all specialist schools where the number of school aged enrolments is less than the enrolment threshold.

Eligibility

The following campus types receive the Size Adjustment Supplementation funding at a school level:

  • Day special
  • Special developmental
  • Disability
  • Special (excluding Aurora School)
  • Furlong Park School For Deaf Children

The special developmental campuses of mainstream schools are eligible. Autistic schools do not receive this allocation.

Funding is calculated for each of the 4 school terms and allocated through credit and cash funding.

Calculation

Where total enrolments at the school are less than 45 (enrolment threshold): Size Adjustment Supplementation = [45(enrolment threshold) − Core Index Enrolment] × Rate

Example: A school with 35 enrolments would calculate their Size Adjustment Supplementation funding as:
[45(enrolment threshold) − Core Index enrolment (35)] × Rate

The maximum amount funded is limited to cap listed below.

Rates 2024

  • Per student rate:
    • Credit: $6,177
    • Cash: $349
  • Enrolment threshold: 45
  • Maximum funded:
    • Credit: $139,242
    • Cash: $8,898

Approved Early Education Program (Reference 7)

Approved Early Education Program (Reference 7)

A defined group of specialist schools maintain early education programs for pre-school aged children with a disability between the ages of 2 years and 8 months and 4 years and 8 months. Funding is allocated at a school level.

Eligibility

Schools must operate a department-approved Early Education Program to be eligible for funding. For further details, including a list of relevant schools, see the Early Education Programs PAL page.

Calculation

Approved Early Education funding is calculated as:

Agreed FTE at school level × Funding rate

Note: Furlong Park School for Deaf Children is the exception.

Funding is calculated at the Indicative budget cycle. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

Rates 2024

Funding rate = $29,736 and Furlong Park School for Deaf Children rate: $36,351


Principal Salary Adjustment (Reference 8)

Principal Salary Adjustment (Reference 8)

This item is included in the Student Resource Package (SRP) for specialist schools. Its continuation will be subject to review which is yet to be completed. Changes associated with the review will be implemented post-2024.


Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program (Reference 10)

Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program (Reference 10)

The Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program provides schools with resources to support the delivery of teaching and learning programs for students with autism, dyslexia, language or other learning disabilities. Supports may include:

  • Teaching staff
  • Specialist education or allied health staff
  • Consultancy or professional development
  • Specialist equipment or materials
  • Education support staff

The quality of teaching has one of the largest impacts on student learning. Building teaching excellence is central to making schools more inclusive and improving outcomes for students with learning support needs.

In delivering effective programs for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, school leaders and teachers should ensure their practice is:

In addition, school policy and practice should reflect collaboration between the school leaders and teachers, parent/carer(s), specialist education or allied health staff to develop agreed understandings and responses to students' needs, including students with autism, dyslexia, language or other learning disabilities.

Guidelines are available to assist schools in supporting students with disabilities and additional learning needs, refer to Student Support Groups.

For further information, refer to Students with Disability.

Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program resources should not be targeted to students in receipt of supplementary funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities or Disability Inclusion Tier 3.

Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program funding allocations will be progressively replaced by Disability Inclusion Tier 2 school-level funding, as the Disability Inclusion model is implemented in schools.

Eligibility

Funding through the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program will continue to be available to schools until they transition to Disability Inclusion during the staged 5-year roll-out schedule between 2021 to 2025.

Remaining schools with the following campus types and enrolments are eligible for the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program funding at campus level:

  • Primary
  • Secondary – Years 7 to 9 only
  • Primary/Secondary combined – (secondary enrolments funded: Years 7 to 9 and Ungraded only) (excluding Wodonga Middle Years College)
  • Community – (secondary enrolments funded: Years 7 to 9 and Ungraded only)
  • Training Centre (excluding Yarra Me School)

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit funding.

In 2024, schools in Hume Merri-bek, Outer Gippsland, Wimmera South West, and Inner Eastern Melbourne are eligible for the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program. In 2025, the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program will be replaced by Disability Inclusion Tier 2 funding (Ref 137) for all schools.

Calculation

The allocation is calculated in two parts. First, a weighted per student allocation based on the Stages of Schooling for Prep to 9 students. Second, a further allocation for campuses with a Student Family Occupation (SFO) index above a density threshold of 0.4606.

Per student allocation (Part 1) = Base allocation + (Stages of Schooling enrolments × Stages of schooling weighted rate)

SFO allocation (Part 2 if applicable) = Stages of Schooling enrolments × Stages of schooling weighted SFO student rate × (School SFO index − SFO threshold)

Total allocation = Per student allocation + SFO allocation

Minimum allocation for all primary and secondary campuses = $5,000.00

Example: A primary school with 21 Prep to Year 1 enrolments, 11 Year 2 enrolments, 50 Year 3 to 6 enrolments and a school SFO density of 0.5543 would calculate their funding as follows:

Part 1 Student allocation = Base allocation + (Prep to Year 1 Enrolment (21) × Prep to Year 1 weighted rate) + (Year 2 enrolment (11) × Year 2 weighted rate) + (Year 3 to 6 enrolment (50) × Year 3 to 6 weighted rate)

Part 2 SFO allocation = (Prep to Year 1 enrolment (21) × Prep to Year 1 SFO weighted rate) + (Year 2 enrolment (11) × Year 2 SFO weighted rate) + (Year 3 to 6 enrolment (50) × Year 3 to 6 SFO weighted rate) × (School SFO index (0.5543) − SFO density threshold)

Total allocation = Student allocation (Part 1) + SFO allocation (Part 2). A minimum allocation is provided if Parts 1 and 2 do not generate the minimum funding of $5,000

Rates 2024

Student ratesWeighting

Weighted per student rate ($)

(Part 1)

Weighted SFO student rate ($)

(Part 2, if applicable)

Prep to Year 11.175045.37866.02
Year 21.091042.12804.11
Years 3 to 6 (Base rates)1.000038.61737.04
Years 7 to 91.305150.39961.91
  • SFO Threshold: 0.4606
  • Guaranteed Minimum: $5,000
  • Base Allocation: $3,000

Mental Health Practitioners (Reference 119)

Mental Health Practitioners (Reference 119)

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative provides funding to government school campuses with secondary enrolments to employ a mental health practitioner (mental health nurse, occupational therapist, psychologist or social worker) for between one and five days a week.

Mental health practitioners provide direct counselling support to students and other early intervention and whole-school health promotion activities, as well as coordinating support for students with complex needs.

For further information on the MHP initiative, refer to Mental health practitioners in secondary and specialist schoolsExternal Link in the department’s Mental health and wellbeing toolkitExternal Link .

Student Resource Package (SRP) funding is provided to cover the salary of an ongoing school-based mental health practitioner. All secondary school campuses will receive an allocation between a minimum of 0.2 FTE and a maximum of 1.0 FTE, depending on the number of their secondary student enrolments.

FTE allocations will be fixed from the release of the Confirmed SRP (April 2023) for 2 years. At the conclusion of the 2-year period, FTE allocations will be reviewed and adjustments will be made where schools have a significant increase in student enrolments.

This funding is provided for the Mental Health Practitioners initiative only and allocated funding must be spent for this purpose. Prior to spending any accrued unused funding, schools must engage with their Regional Mental Health Coordinator (MHC). Further information and advice about suitable alternative uses for unused funding can be found on the MHP initiative Policy and Advisory Library page or via Regional MHCs.

Please note, schools that participated in the 'Health Promoting Schools' pilot with Melbourne University and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute will see a one-off increase in the cash component of their 2024 confirmed SRP payment. This increase covers the cost of CRT time-release for participating staff.

Eligibility

Funding is provided to Community, Language, Secondary and Primary/Secondary Combined campuses with secondary enrolments. Funding is also provided to Virtual School Victoria.

Funding is allocated as credit and cash funding.

The following schools/campuses do not receive this allocation:

  • Frankston Special Developmental School
  • Rubicon Outdoor School
  • Outdoor School
  • Bendigo Senior Secondary College – Netschool Campus

Calculation

Campus FTE allocation (Part 1) = Secondary enrolments × 0.0008119

Funding calculation (Part 2) = Campus FTE allocation (rounded to 1 decimal) × Rate

Rate

Rate = Midpoint of an Education Support, Level 1 Range 4, position including school SRP on costs


Camps Payment (Reference 144)

Camps Payment (Reference 144)

School camps (domestic) overnight on call

This funding line is provided to schools to pay teachers and education support staff attending domestic overnight camps during term time for 8 hours on call at 50% from 11 pm to 7 am for each night on camp.

Employees who are required to attend a school camp are regarded as being on call and available to perform duties during the overnight period between 11 pm to 7 am and will attract 50% time-in-lieu for the 8-hour period (that is, 4 hours’ time in lieu). Payment for this time-in-lieu is calculated at 100% of a teacher’s hourly rate or 150% of an education support class employees’ hourly rate.

Schools have full flexibility to determine the appropriate allocation of the funding across their individual school camp program including longer camps for certain year levels and subject specialisations. Whilst schools will have different camp arrangements across student cohorts, this funding is calculated based on an average 3-day camp (2 overnights) for students in year levels from Grade 2 to Grade 6, and secondary schools from every year level from Year 7 to Year 12.

All school and campus types are eligible. The following 2 schools are not funded: Parkville College and Victorian School of Languages. Small rural schools as defined by the eligibility of Rural School Size Adjustment Factor (Reference 4) get an additional Rural Loading.

Eligibility

Schools with the following school types are eligible for the on-call payment funding at a campus level:

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Primary/Secondary Combined
  • Special Schools
  • Language
  • Camp

The allocations have the following specific elements:

  • mainstream school specific per student rate + 40% loading if it is designated rural
  • index specialist schools specific per student rate + 40% loading if it is designated rural
  • camp schools specific per student rate + 40% loading if it is designated rural
  • small schools have a funding floor to provide a minimum.

The funding is calculated to provide primary schools with funding to cover the overnight on-call payment for, on average, a 3-day camp for all students in all year levels from Grade 2 to Grade 6 and to secondary schools to cover the overnight on-call payments for, on average, a 3-day camp for all students in every year level from Year 7 to Year 12.

Calculation

All student enrolments from Grade 2 onwards are eligible to receive funding.

Formula

Funding for each school = Rate × Eligible enrolments. Small schools have a funding floor as defined below.

Eligible enrolments = All enrolments except Prep and Grade 1.

Rates

Mainstream/Language school rate: $50.58

Special School rate: $168.60

Camp Schools rate: $2,590.92

Special campus of mainstream schools funded at special school rate.

Funding floor for small school

Mainstream/Camp/Language: $512.45 total for 0 to 9.9 enrolments and $1,024.89 total for 10 to 19.9 enrolments.

Special: $1,708.16 total for 0 to 9.9 enrolments and $3,416.31 total for 10 to 19.9 enrolments.

Rural loading

Rural loading = 40%

Eligibility for rural loading is the same as defined for Rural School Size Adjustment Factor (Reference 4).

Other relevant information

Schools are also reminded that the 2024 school budgets provide casual relief teaching (CRT) cover for one professional practice day (PPD) in 2024. If schools hold a common PPD in 2024, this CRT funding can be flexibly redeployed towards any time-in-lieu arrangements.

The full and updated guidelines for time-in-lieu are available here:


Autism schools – stages of schooling (Reference 148)

Autism schools – stages of schooling (Reference 148)

Stages of schooling refers to a per-student allocation for eligible students attending autism schools. Stages of schooling is a type of individual student disability funding. Other types of individual student disability funding include Disability Inclusion Tier 3 and the Program for Students with Disabilities Level 1 to 6.

Eligibility

To be eligible for stages of schooling, students must have a verified disability category of ASD or ID. A disability category can be verified via the Program for Students with Disabilities or Specialist School Enrolment Verification Service.

Students not eligible for stages of schooling may be funded via specialist school Core Index Stages 1 to 3 (Reference 5), Disability Inclusion Tier 3 (Reference 138), and/or the Program for Students with Disabilities Level 1 to 6 (Reference 15) as appropriate.

Funding eligibility is calculated at the Indicative and Confirmed budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit funding.

The following schools are eligible for stages of schooling funding:

  • Bulleen Heights School
  • Eastern Ranges School
  • Jacana School for Autism
  • Jennings Street School
  • Niddrie Autistic School
  • Northern School for Autism
  • Southern Autistic School
  • Western Autistic School

Calculation

Stages of schooling is divided into 4 age ranges, using the student’s age at 1 Jan of the corresponding school year. Funding is calculated at a campus level

[Stages of schooling component] = [applicable enrolments] × [component rate]

Example: 'Sample Autism School' has 60 enrolled students that are eligible for stages of schooling, across all age components.

Stages of schooling calculation
ComponentStudentsRate*Total
Stages of Schooling 4 to 640$53,585$2,143,400
Stages of Schooling 7 to 810$50,626$506,260
Stages of Schooling 9 to 118$46,506$372,048
Stages of Schooling 12+2$ 44,549$89,098
Total stages of schooling funding$3,110,806

*Rates based on 2024 figures.

Rates 2024

Stages of schooling per-student allocation
Age4 to 67 to 89 to 1112+
Credit$53,585$50,626$46,506$ 44,549

Autism schools – dual enrolment linked base (Reference 149)

Autism schools – dual enrolment linked base (Reference 149)

Eligibility

Dual enrolment linked base for autism schools is applied at a campus level. Funding eligibility is calculated at the Indicative and Confirmed budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

The following schools are eligible for enrolment linked base funding calculation:

  • Bulleen Heights School
  • Eastern Ranges School
  • Jacana School for Autism
  • Jennings Street School
  • Niddrie Autistic School
  • Northern School for Autism
  • Southern Autistic School
  • Western Autistic School

Calculation

Calculating a campus’ enrolment linked base funding is a 3-step process. First, determine which ‘tier’ the campus enrolment falls into. Second, use the tier to calculate the ‘tapered rate’. Third, use the tapered rate multiplied by total stages of schooling enrolment numbers to determine the final enrolment linked base funding. See more detailed instructions below.

Definitions

[% to compare]Percentage of students aged 12 and over at the campus
[Total enrolments over 12]Total FTE enrolments at the campus aged 12 and over.
[Total enrolments]Total FTE enrolments at the campus.
[SoS total enrolments]Total enrolments funded via Stages of Schooling.
[Tier cut off]The cut-off point for the tapering calculation, changes depending on the tier the campus falls into.
[Tapered rate]The per-student rate to apply within the Base, before being adjusted for tapering.
[Taper]The per-students rate to use when calculating the taper (see Rates).
[Base rate]The per-student base rate (see Rates).
[Campus DELB]Campus dual enrolment linked base.

Calculating the tapered rate

Due to additional costs that are incurred with students aged 12 and over, a 2-tier tapering system is in place. The first tier applies to campuses with students predominately aged between 4 and 11, the second, campuses where the students range from 4 to 18.

Which tier a campus falls into is determined based on the proportion of its students over the age of 12. Campuses with less than 15% of students aged 12 or over have the tapered rate calculated using the 4 to 11 tier. Campuses with 15% or more of students aged 12 or over have their tapered rate calculated using the 4 to 18 tier. This can be calculated as:

[% to compare] = [Total enrolments aged 12 and over] / [Total enrolments]

The difference between the 2tiers is the cut-off before tapering is applied to the rate:

TierCut-off
4 to 1145
4 to 1890

The overall calculation for the Tapered Rate is as follows:

If [Total enrolments] ≥ [Tier cut off] then

[Tapered rate] = [Base rate] − (([Total enrolments] − [Tier cut-off]) × [Taper])

Else

[Tapered rate] = [Base rate]

Calculating the dual enrolment linked base

The dual enrolment linked base (DELB) is calculated using the tapered rate as determined above, and multiplying it by the number of Stages of Schooling (SoS) funded students at the campus.

[Campus DELB] = [Tapered rate] × [SoS total enrolments]

Example:

'Sample Autism School' has the following breakdown of students:

Student ageSample Autism School
Under 1240
12 and over20
Total enrolments60
SoS total enrolments60
Tier

20/60 = 33%

As the percentage is greater than 15%, we use the 4 to 18 Tier for our calculations, this means our tier cut-off is 90 students.

Tapered rate

If 60 ≥ 90 then

[Tapered rate] = $ 11,493 − ((60 − 90) × 53.09)

Else

[Tapered rate] = $ 11,493

As 60 is not greater than or equal to 90, we end up with:

[Tapered rate] = $ 11,493

Enrolment linked base

[Campus ELB] = $ 11,493 × 60

[Campus ELB] = $689,580

Rates 2024

Enrolment linked baseCreditCashTotal
Base rate$10,900$593$11,493
Taper50.272.8253.09

Deaf facility funding (Reference 150)

Deaf facility funding (Reference 150)

Deaf facilities operate within a number of mainstream schools across the state, delivering specialised learning to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Deaf facility funding is provided for the provision of specialised staff and supports, and should be used in conjunction with core student learning allocation funding and Disability Inclusion Tier 2.

Deaf facility funding is a type of individual student disability funding. Other types of individual student disability funding include Disability Inclusion Tier 3 and the Program for Students with Disabilities Level 1 to 6.

The various funding components are provided to ensure that all deaf facilities have access to resources to support operational functions.

Secondary schools can refer to Paramedical and Interpreter Staff Salaries (Reference 19) for more information on Interpreter Staff funding.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this funding, schools must operate a department-approved deaf facility and support enrolled students with a verified disability category of ‘hearing impairment’.

Funding eligibility is calculated at the Indicative and Confirmed budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit and cash funding.

The following schools operate department-approved deaf facilities.

Primary settings

  • Brighton Primary School
  • Eastwood Primary School
  • Forest Street Primary School
  • Guthrie Street Primary School Shepparton
  • Mount View Primary School
  • Pearcedale Primary School
  • Rosanna Golf Links Primary School
  • St Albans East Primary School
  • Willmott Park Primary School

Secondary settings

  • Charles La Trobe P–12 College
  • Forest Hill College
  • Greater Shepparton Secondary College
  • Mount Erin Secondary College
  • Sunshine College

Primary/secondary settings

  • Grovedale West Primary School*
  • Kennington Primary School*

*These primary schools coordinate deaf facility support for both primary and secondary-aged students.

Calculation

Primary deaf facility

[Primary per-student allocation × (FTE enrolment)] + [Primary enrolment linked base] + [additional primary funding adjustment]

Example: primary school deaf facility supporting a total of 6 FTE students

[$36,783 × 6] + [multiples of 4+2 students $64,572] + [5 to 8 students $20,347] = $305,6177

Secondary deaf facility

[Secondary per-student allocation × (FTE enrolment)] + [Secondary enrolment linked base] + [additional secondary funding adjustment] + [Secondary coordination]

Example: secondary school deaf facility supporting a total of 17 FTE students

[$26,449 × 17] + [multiples of 6+5 students $ 21,075] + [13 to 18 students $ 20,204] + [1 to 18 students $63,224] = $ 554,136

Primary/secondary deaf facility

[Primary per-student allocation × (Primary FTE enrolment)] + [Secondary per-student allocation × (Secondary FTE enrolment)] + [Primary enrolment linked base] + [Secondary enrolment linked base] + [additional Primary/secondary funding adjustment] + [Primary/secondary coordination]

Example: Primary/secondary deaf facility settings supporting a total of 5 Primary and 10 Secondary FTE students
[$ 36,783 × 5] + $ [$ 26,449 × 10] + [multiple of 4 Primary students + 1 student $ 96,858] + [multiple of 6 Secondary students + 4 students $42,149] + [13 to 18 students $20,152] + [13+ students $126,093] = $733,657.00

Rates 2024

Primary deaf facility rates

Primary per student allocation*
Credit$34,648
Cash$2,135
Total$36,783

*This rate is also used for Primary enrolments in Primary/secondary deaf facilities.

Primary enrolment linked base*
Multiples of 4 + 1 studentMultiples of 4 + 2 studentsMultiples of 4 + 3 studentsMultiples of 4 students
Credit$83,223$55,482$27,741$0
Cash$13,635$9,090$4,545$0
Total$96,858$64,572$32,286$0

*This rate is also used for Primary enrolments in Primary/secondary deaf facilities.

Additional primary funding adjustment
1 to 4 students5 to 8 students9 to 12 students13 to 16 students17 to 20 students21+ students
Credit$13,597$17,482$6,798$9,064$11,331$0
Cash$2,229$2,865$1,113$1,485$1,856$0
Total$15,826$20,347$7,911$10,549$13,187$0

Secondary deaf facility rates

Secondary per student allocation*
Credit$25,135
Cash$1,314
Total$ 26,449

*This rate is also used for Secondary enrolments in Primary/secondary deaf facilities.

Secondary enrolment linked base*
Multiples of 6 + 1 studentMultiples of 6 + 2 studentsMultiples of 6 + 3 studentsMultiples of 6 + 4 studentsMultiples of 6 + 5 studentsMultiples of 6 students
Credit$88,864$71,092$53,319$35,546$17,773$0
Cash$16,508$13,207$9,905$6,603$3,302$0
Total$105,372$84,299$63,224$42,149$21,075$0

*This rate is also used for Secondary enrolments in Primary/secondary deaf facilities.

Additional secondary funding adjustment
1 to 6 students7 to 12 students13 to 18 students19 to 24 students25 to 30 students
Credit$11,359$22,719$17,039$11,344$14,181
Cash$2,110$4,222$3,165$2,107$2,634
Total$13,469$26,941$20,204$13,451$16,815
Secondary coordination
1 to 18 students19+ students
Credit$53,317$106,629
Cash$9,907$19,812
Total$63,224$126,441

Primary/secondary deaf facility rates

The per-student and Enrolment linked base rates for Primary/secondary settings are the same as the Primary and Secondary rates detailed above.

Additional Primary/secondary funding adjustment
1 to 6 students7 to 12 students13 to 18 students19 to 24 students25 to 30 students31+ students
Credit$11,289$22,579$16,936$11,274$14,092$0
Cash$2,144$4,288$3,216$2,141$2,676$0
Total$13,433$26,867$20,152$13,415$16,768$0
Primary/secondary coordination
1 to 12 students13+ students
Credit$52,987$105,969
Cash$10,062$20,124
Total$63,049$126,093

Resources

Resources

School student resource package (SRP) interactive site (staff login required)

To see budget and planner reports for principals and delegates, login to student resource packageExternal Link .

Current SRP guidance

Other resources

Disability specific professional learning activitiesExternal Link – here schools can access information about the Victorian Curriculum and disability specific professional learning activities. In delivering effective programs for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, school leaders and teachers should ensure their practice is informed by the curriculum and the disability specific learning activities.


Reviewed 13 September 2023