VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

Policy last updated

1 January 2026

Scope

  • Schools
  • School councils

Date:
February 2020

Policy

Policy

This policy provides information about how funding is allocated to schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) for school infrastructure.

Details

‘School-based funding’ is one of 3 categories of funding provided for by the SRP. Funding for ‘school infrastructure’ is one type of school-based funding provided to schools. The other type of school based funding is funding for School Specific Programs.

The school infrastructure component provides funding for school facilities and programs specific to individual schools. The infrastructure section provides information about the following specific types of infrastructure funding:

  • Contract cleaning
  • Cross infection prevention allowance
  • Grounds allowance
  • Building area allowance
  • Split-site/Multi-site allowance
  • Utilities
  • Maintenance and Minor Works
  • Annual contracts
  • Workers’ compensation

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.

Contacts

Contract Cleaning
Email: cleaning@education.vic.gov.au

Annual Contracts and Essential Services
Email: essential.safety.measures@education.vic.gov.au

Maintenance
Email: maintenance.plan@education.vic.gov.au

School Asset Data
Email: sams@education.vic.gov.au

Utilities
Email: studentresourcepackage@education.vic.gov.au

Workers Compensation
Email: workers.compensation.advisory@education.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 7022 07280


Guidance

Guidance

School-based funding provides for school infrastructure and programs specific to individual schools.

References:

  • Contract Cleaning
  • Cross Infection Prevention Allowance
  • Grounds Allowance
  • Building Area Allowance
  • Split-site/Multi-site Allowance
  • Utilities
  • Maintenance and Minor Works
  • Annual Contracts
  • Workers’ Compensation

Contract Cleaning (Reference 28)

Contract Cleaning (Reference 28)

Funding for contract cleaning

Cleaning arrangements differ between metropolitan and regional schools. For detailed information, refer to the Cleaning policy.

For metropolitan schools, contract cleaning funding is no longer provided directly through the Student Resource Package (SRP). Instead, funds are held centrally, and the department pays cleaning companies directly.

For regional schools, contract cleaning funding remains included in the SRP, and based on normal and low-use areas, as determined by the cleanable spaces outlined in the school's facility schedule.

Other additional cleaning funds

From 2025, schools will receive additional cleaning funding through SRP offline payments in Term 1 and Term 3, over and above this contract cleaning entitlement provided through the SRP quarterly cash grant.

  • All schools will receive flexible funding to purchase additional cleaning services as needed, including external hire, fetes, sports events, and after-hours use.
  • Regional schools will also receive further additional funding to cover the 5% above award rate for all cleaners.

Contract cleaning exclusions

Contract cleaning funding does not cover school consumables, such as:

  • toilet paper, paper towels, and soap
  • disinfectant blocks and hand sanitiser
  • bin liners.

A proportion of the cash component of the core per student allocation, includes funding for these types of consumables. Additionally, contract cleaning does not cover:

  • cleaning of school-owned assets
  • the use of school facilities for external events (such as external hire, fetes, sports events, and after-hours use) as funded via additional SRP offline flexible funding.

Funding changes

The Confirmed SRP is based on the February census. As with other elements of the SRP, the contract cleaning allocation is subject to change based on confirmed enrolments as per the February census.

Contract cleaning allocations are adjusted for any building configuration changes that occur. Where the cleanable area is reduced, the area change is applied from the following term onwards. Where the cleanable area is increased, the cleaning area change is applied from the beginning of the term in which the change was made.

Rates information for this program

Total cleaning area

This is the total of the cleanable areas of the school as per the School Cleanable Area Report (CAR). The Total Cleaning Area used to calculate your budget which is contained in your SRP Cleaning Statement and in the Quarterly Cash Grant advice. Any subsequent changes will be reflected in your CAR.

The CAR lists all rooms at a school and their cleanable eligibility, to provide a total cleanable area for the school. It is provided to schools by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) available on demand from the Asset Management Information System (AIMS).

Cleaning area entitlement

The cleaning area entitlement (normal use) for both secondary and primary schools is allocated in square metres according to enrolment bands of 25 students.

The cleanable area in excess of entitlement is deemed as low use area.

For enrolment or area entitlements, refer to: Contract Cleaning Schedule spreadsheet (XLS)External Link .

For a small number of primary schools disadvantaged by the 1:25 Schedule introduced in 2001 additional m2 area is added to the school’s entitlement on AIMS to restore the school to the better of the former entitlement schedules. The adjustment is removed when the school moves into line with the 1:25 Schedule due to enrolment changes or if the school undergoes a facilities provision or upgrade program.

Building area changes

The budget impact of area changes notified depends on whether the areas are part of the school’s area entitlement and whether they involve designated cleanable areas. Where areas change, schools should refer to the CAR.

Building area changes (for example, whether the changed areas are part of the school’’s area entitlement and whether they involve designated cleanable areas) can impact the amount of funding a school receives for cleaning. For more information, schools can email the Information and Reporting Unit at sams@education.vic.gov.au

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised cycles. However, cleaning area is only updated at the Confirmed SRP release and funding is allocated as cash.

Calculation

[Normal_Use_Area] × [Normal_Use_Rate] plus [Low_Use_Area] × [Low_Use_Rate]

Refer to Rates section for stipulated minimum dollar allocation.

Entitlement cannot exceed Total Cleanable Area.

Rates 2026

Campus typeNormal use ($)Low use ($)
Special development school, day special and special

33.09

N/A

All others

30.83

6.61

Small schools under 372 m2

24.90

N/A

Minimum allocation

6,506

N/A

Notes

Split-site and multi-campus locations are calculated as separate entities.

Reporting in CASES21

Expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to the following:

  • Sub Program Code: 6001 – Building Services and Utilities
  • General Ledger Account Code: 86502 – Contract Cleaning.

Cross Infection Prevention Allowance (Reference 29)

Cross Infection Prevention Allowance (Reference 29)

Additional cleaning funds are provided to special developmental schools and physical disability special schools that receive Core Index Stages 1–3 (Reference 5) to reduce the risk of cross infection.

Eligibility

Schools with the following campus types are eligible for Cross Infection Prevention Allowance at campus level:

  • Special development
  • Disability
  • Day Special
  • Special.

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

Rates 2025

A flat rate is provided for eligible schools: $14,354

Reporting in CASES21

Expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to the following:

  • Sub Program Code: 6001 – Building Services and Utilities
  • General Ledger Account Code: 86502 – Contract Cleaning

Grounds Allowance (Reference 31)

Grounds Allowance (Reference 31)

The Grounds Allowance is provided to schools to ensure school grounds are properly maintained.

The types of specific tasks that should be undertaken include:

  • gardens and grounds maintenance (including mowing)
  • landscaping work
  • sports field maintenance
  • drainage and flooding issues
  • asphalt works, paving, concrete pathways
  • fencing
  • tree management (unless part of the Safe Trees Program – see 6222 under Maintenance and Minor Works).

Schools that have taken part in the Rolling Facilities Evaluation should be using the School Maintenance Plan portal to plan and schedule maintenance tasks.

For further information, refer to the School Maintenance Plans and Rolling Facilities Evaluations policy.

Calculation

Grounds area (m2) rounded to 0 decimal places × Grounds allowance rate

Rates 2026

Grounds allowance rate = $1.00 per square metre

Reporting in CASES21

Expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to the following:

  • Sub Program Code: 6502 – Grounds
  • General Ledger Account Code: 86505 – Ground Works
  • General Ledger Account Code: 26501 – Building and Land Clearing Account

Refer to the Finance Manual for Schools – Section 13 Asset and Inventory Management on PAL to establish if works should be capitalised.

SRP funding for Grounds Allowance is calculated at the Confirmed cycle using updated data and may be updated at the Revised cycle. Funding is allocated through cash funding. Grounds area is sourced from the Victorian Schools Building Authority (VSBA) annually.


Building Area Allowance (Reference 32)

Building Area Allowance (Reference 32)

Funding for the building area allowance is based on the school’s total building area in square metres.

Total building area is sourced from the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) annually, during the Confirmed cycle.

Eligibility

All campus types listed below are eligible for Building Area Allowance funding provided at campus level:

  • Day special
  • Special Development school
  • Physical disability
  • Special
  • Hospital
  • Deaf
  • Language
  • Youth Training Centre

Funding is calculated at the Confirmed cycle only and allocated through cash funding.

Calculation

Building area square metres rounded to 1 decimal place × Building area allowance rate

Rates 2026 ($/m2 annually)

  • $3.25/m2

Example: A special development campus with a total building area of 1,000 m2 × $3.25 = $3,250

Reporting in CASES21

Expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to the following:

  • Sub Program Code: 6201 – Maintenance and Minor Works
  • General Ledger Account Code: 86504 – Building Works

Split-site/Multi-site Allowance (Reference 33)

Split-Site/Multi-Site Allowance (Reference 33)

Split-site/multi-site allowances are paid to designated primary, P-12 and secondary colleges which are not being funded for a separate enrolment linked base (Reference 2). Specialist and Language Schools are also eligible if applied criteria is satisfied.

A school may be eligible for the allowance if:

  • it is a specialist school operating on sites that are more than one kilometre apart (not including base rooms) or
  • the configuration of the school represents a historical merging of 2 or more schools or
  • it has classrooms operating on 2 or more sites, for example, separated by at least a road or an oval (not including alternative settings attached to schools).

From 2026, the program will start being phased out and be fully phased out by 2029 and schools will receive 75% of their full funding entitlement in the 2026 SRP.

Note:

  1. Includes P–12 colleges that have more than one primary school site.
  2. For approved secondary colleges formed through the merger of secondary colleges on adjacent sites, this item is replaced by a $48,475 site allowance.

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

Rates 2026

Primary school (includes P–12 colleges that have more than one primary site)

  • $5,370 per annum for the second site
  • $2,686 per annum for each subsequent site

P–12 school

  • $8,473 per annum for each additional site

Secondary college

  • $8,473 per annum for each additional site

Language school

  • $8,473 per annum for each additional site

Special school

  • $2,381 per annum for each additional site

Utilities (Reference 34)

Utilities (Reference 34)

Utilities funding is provided as a cash allocation as part of the Student Resource Package (SRP) under the School Infrastructure items. Funding is distributed through the quarterly cash grant.

Utilities funding is provided for the following items.

  • electricity
  • natural (mains) and LPG gas
  • water/rates
  • refuse and garbage.

Utilities funding is not provided for the following items:

  • telephone costs
  • sanitation costs
  • sanitation bins (including sharps) collection, this is an Annual Contract (SRP Reference 36).

Reporting in CASES21

Utilities expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to:

  • Sub Program Code: 6001 – Building Services and Utilities
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86452 – Electricity
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86453 – Gas – Mains
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86454 – Gas – LPG
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86455 – Water including Water Rates
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86503 – Refuse and Garbage.

The utilities budget is based on historical spending plus indexation. It is not formula driven and therefore is not automatically adjusted to reflect changes in a school’s profile.

Schools that have undergone building configuration changes or had major works that have materially impacted on utility costs may be eligible for an ongoing utilities budget adjustment to help support those additional costs.

Whole of Victorian Government energy contracts

The department is currently a participant in whole of Victorian Government contracts that cover the supply of electricity and natural gas to all school sites (meters).

Electricity

1. State Electricity Commission (SEC) is our retailer for schools (meters) that consume >40 MWh pa.

Contacts for billing enquiries:

2. AGL is our retailer for schools (meters) that consume 40 MWh pa.

Contacts for billing enquiries:

Natural gas

AGL is the provider of natural gas under a whole-of-government contract arrangement.

Contact for billing and new connection enquiries

For further tariff and contract information, see: Student Resource Package (school user login required)External Link .

Any school not supplied under the relevant whole of Victorian Government contract must contact Mr Brett Duff on email: studentresourcepackage@education.vic.gov.au, to arrange the transition to the appropriate whole of Victorian Government retailer. All other queries can be directed to the retailer.

In lieu of schools joining a Whole of Government contract, schools must not sign or negotiate individual or group contracts for the supply of electricity and natural gas irrespective of usage levels as per the Executive Memo 2005/19 Update on the Supply of Electricity and Natural Gas. .

Water

All schools are supplied water by their designated water authority. No government contract is in place for water.

To assist schools with managing water costs, we encourage you to join the Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP). SWEP is a state government initiative jointly developed and funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of Education and Training (DET).

SWEP provides you with a program to monitor your school's water usage to save water, money and educate students about water efficiency concepts. You can register online for SWEP or learn more by visiting Schools Water Efficiency ProgramExternal Link .

Separately, schools in Victoria are eligible for a rebate on their fixed charges for water and sewer (self-supply schools are ineligible). This initiative developed by the State Revenue Office provides a rebate of up to a maximum of $260 yearly. The application form that needs to be submitted to your local water authority can be accessed at Apply for a water and sewerage rebateExternal Link or by contacting the State Revenue Office on 03 9628 0301.

New schools, refurbishment or major building works

Projects of this nature will involve new connections, or upgrades in infrastructure used to supply electricity or natural gas. Where this is the case, schools should make early contact with the appropriate whole of Victorian Government electricity or natural gas supplier to understand both the nature and cost of this aspect of the project.


Maintenance and Minor Works (Reference 35)

Maintenance and Minor Works (Reference 35)

Maintenance and Minor Works (MMW) Student Resource Package (SRP) funding is provided to eligible schools to undertake proactive maintenance of their buildings, using all available information, including the condition assessments from the Rolling Facilities Evaluation (RFE).

It is vital that schools use their MMW allocation for the ongoing maintenance of facilities, to prevent asset degradation and potential health and safety issues.

Once the RFE has been completed, all schools are required to develop and maintain a 5-year School Maintenance Plan (SMP) to help budget, schedule and manage the maintenance and upkeep of their buildings and grounds. The SMP is managed in the Asset Information Management System (AIMS) (staff login required)External Link .

For further information, refer to the School Maintenance Plans and Rolling Facilities Evaluations policy, or contact maintenance.plan@education.vic.gov.au or 03 7022 2212 for support.

Under the department’s Essential Safety Measures (ESM) model, schools are required to ensure that any repairs or rectification works identified through inspection, testing, or annual audits are completed to maintain ESM compliance.

For further information, refer to the Buildings and Grounds Maintenance and Compliance policy or contact essential.safety.measures@education.vic.gov.au or 03 7022 0075 for support.

Eligibility

  • Eligible schools are those with open or pending campuses.
  • Ineligible schools are those due to close, closed, with unstaffed campuses and Public-Private Partnership Schools.
  • Eligible assets are defined as permanent or relocatable curriculum buildings, permanent trade training centres, teacher accommodation and curriculum covered ways.
  • Ineligible buildings are non-curriculum buildings, early childhood centre buildings, houses (except for teacher accommodation), outbuildings and shade sails.
  • Buildings and spaces recorded as ‘no entitlement’ are excluded from this calculation. Spaces are typically recorded as ‘no entitlement’ if they were not originally constructed by the department and are in excess to a school’s allocated facility area. For more detail on area allocation and excess space, refer to Capacity and Area Allocation.
  • Teacher accommodation funding is allocated per property to the host school, with different allocations for regional or rural properties. This applies regardless of whether any spaces within the property are recorded as ‘no entitlement’.

Rates and funding calculation

In 2023 the Victorian School Building Authority revised the calculation methodology for Maintenance SRP funding to reflect an improved understanding of the asset base and maintenance needs.

MMW funding calculations are now completed in 3 steps:

  • Step 1: Maintenance rates are applied to eligible buildings on eligible campuses
  • Step 2: Cost modifiers are applied (where applicable)
  • Step 3: School allocation is adjusted

Step 1: Maintenance rates applied

Initial campus allocation = Area of eligible assets (m2) × Building rate schedule

The area (m2) of curriculum buildings, trade training centre buildings and curriculum covered ways on a school site are multiplied by the rates of the type of works the specific asset requires. The rates, tailored by building type, are provided below.

Building rates schedule 2026
Building useBuilding functionRates applied (Permanent)Rates applied (Relocatable)
BuildingCurriculum

$33.73

$44.71

BuildingTrade/training centre

$33.73

Not applicable

Covered way-openCurriculum

$4.61

$4.61

Step 2: Modifiers applied

Modified campus allocation = Initial campus allocation + Applicable modifiers (% or $)

Cost modifiers are then applied to the maintenance rates developed in Step 1. These modifiers reflect specific conditions of a building or site which increase the cost of maintenance. Applicable modifiers, with allowances, are provided below.

Building modifier schedule 2026
ModifierModifier levelModifier %*Modifier ($)*
Building age (scaled)Building

5 to 20%

Not applicable

Buildings in poor conditionBuilding

20%

Not applicable

HeritageBuilding

20%

Not applicable

Multi-story buildingsBuilding

Not applicable

$565 to $847

Location – regionalCampus

20%

Not applicable

Location – ruralCampus

25%

Not applicable

STEM facilitiesCampus

1%

Not applicable

Specialist schoolsCampus

15%

Not applicable

Hydro pools – special schoolsCampus

Not applicable

$9,605

Lifts – passenger**Campus

Not applicable

$6,295

Lifts – chair**Campus

Not applicable

$1,808

Water treatment plantCampus

Not applicable

$42,036

*As applicable
**This covers the ongoing maintenance of lifts, noting that lift inspections are covered through the Annual Contracts allocation)

Step 3: School allocations adjusted

Final school allocation = All school allocations proportionately adjusted to total available yearly MMW budget (Sum of campus allocations (Modified campus allocation × Excess space weighting %, if applicable + Minimum allocation, if applicable))

To calculate a per school allocation:

  • The building-level maintenance allocations from Step 2 are then added to produce an overall maintenance allocation for each campus.
  • Campus allocations are then scaled for excess space (space in excess to a school’s allocated facility area). This scaling does not apply to Specialist Schools, Supported Inclusion Schools, Outdoor Schools and new schools opened within 5 years where this scaling does not apply.
  • For more detail on excess space, see Capacity and Area Allocation policy.
  • All campus allocations are then proportionally adjusted to meet the overall maintenance budget available for that year and for all eligible schools to receive a set minimum allocation to cover basic operating costs (2026 minimum allocation = $4,294).
  • Where multi-campus, the school’s allocation is the sum of all individual campus allocations.

Payments to schools

The Student Resource Package Maintenance and Minor Works (MMW) allocation is paid on a quarterly basis as part of the SRP budget cash grant.

Changes to a school’s MMW funding allocation between calendar years and/or between Indicative and Confirmed allocations may have occurred due to:

  • changes to building data
  • changes to enrolment
  • changes in relocatable buildings
  • changes in the state-wide maintenance budget.

Reporting in CASES21

Maintenance and Minor Works expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to:

  • Sub Program Code: 6201 – Maintenance and Minor Works
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86500 – Security/Safety/Fire Prevention
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86504 – Building Works
    • General Ledger Account Code: 26501 – Building & Land Clearing Account

Refer to the Finance Manual for Schools – Section 13 Asset and Inventory Management on PAL to establish if works should be capitalised.

Maintenance programs

The exception is where Victorian School Building Authority provides additional funding for the maintenance programs listed below which can be one off or ongoing:

  • Planned Maintenance Program (PMP) targeted to address Priority One and Two defects identified by the RFE
  • Accessible Buildings Program (ABP)
  • Safe Tree Program
  • Capital Works Fund (CWF)
  • Emergency Maintenance Program (EMP)
  • Bushfire Preparedness (Vegetation) Program (BPVP).
Reporting in CASES21

Maintenance program expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to:

  • Sub Program Code: 6222 – Maintenance Programs
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86504 – Building Works
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86505 – Ground Works
    • General Ledger Account Code: 26501 – Building and Land Clearing Account

Refer to the Finance Manual for Schools – Section 13 Asset and Inventory Management on PAL to establish if works should be capitalised.


Annual Contracts (Reference 36)

Annual Contracts (Reference 36)

The Annual Contracts allocation provides for the routine servicing, inspection, and testing of various essential and mandatory items. Funded items include:

  • hygiene requirements (sanitary bins, nappy bins, sharps containers)
  • onsite wastewater management systems (OWMS)
  • private drinking water (PDW)
  • lifts
  • termite inspections (not pest control)
  • heaters, boilers (for example, Type A and Type B gas appliances)
  • air conditioning (including evaporative cooling systems)
  • vertical school systems (that is, centralised Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems)
  • gas and electrical safety inspections (specific to Teacher Accommodation).

The allocation covers servicing, inspection and testing of existing items at eligible schools. It does not cover new items (for example, it funds the servicing of existing air conditioning units but not the purchase of new units).

Costs for any associated repairs or rectification works identified through Annual Contract routine testing, servicing and/or inspection are funded via the Maintenance and Minor Works (Reference 35) component of the Student Resource Package (SRP).

Annual Contracts activities should be managed via completion of work orders in the Asset Information Management System (AIMS) (staff login required)External Link .

For further related guidance, please refer to:

Or contact vsba.annual.contracts@education.vic.gov.au or 03 7022 5800 for support.

Funding allocation

Funding is allocated to eligible schools to cover the costs of the above-listed Annual Contracts items.

Allocations are adjusted if enrolment, building and/or entitlement areas change, new equipment is provided or recorded, or the number of teacher accommodation properties managed by the host school changes.

Air conditioning entitlement

A school’s eligibility and entitlement to receive air conditioning funding is determined by the VSBA Heating and Cooling policy (BQSH) in conjunction with the NatHERS zones 20 and 27 as outlined on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme siteExternal Link .

In 2025, historical discrepancies in air conditioning unit counting methodologies were corrected through an AIMS automation upgrade. For a small number of schools under 100 enrolments that would otherwise lose funding, counts remain at 2025 levels until the schools overall funding rises to align with revised counts.

Rates and funding calculation

Annual Contracts are calculated using a ‘bottom-up’ formula based on the 8 distinct contract types (excluding the singular payment vertical school allocation). Funding for each item is calculated by either a set funding amount per unit at the school or by fixed tiers.

Funding is calculated a set dollar-per-unit rate multiplied by each unit recorded at the school for:

  • Onsite Wastewater Management Systems (OWMS): number of septic tanks
  • Private Drinking Water (PDW): number of potable water drinking tanks
  • Lifts: number of passenger and/or document lifts
  • Heating: number of furnace heating and/or boiling water units
  • Air conditioning: number of entitled evaporative and refrigerative units.

For remaining items, funding is tier-based according to enrolment or building area. Schools receive more funding when thresholds are exceeded, for:

  • hygiene requirements (sanitary bins, nappy bins, sharps containers) – the allocation is a fixed amount for schools with enrolments of less than 400 students and increases to a higher fixed amount for schools with 400 or more students
  • termite inspections – the allocation considers the school's total internal floor area. Schools with an area below 6,000 m2 receive a fixed base amount. Schools receive a further funding for every subsequent 6,000 m2 threshold crossed
  • instant hot water heating units – the allocation is a fixed amount for schools with enrolments of less than 400 students and increases to a higher fixed amount for schools with 400 or more students.

Additional distinct rates and/or allocations have been established as follows:

  • Separate rates apply for metro, regional and rural schools to accommodate increased service costs due to the extra travel requirements by maintenance contractors.
  • Vertical schools receive a single additional payment to accommodate increased service costs associated with residing in a high-rise building.
  • Servicing, inspection, and testing funding for regional and rural teacher accommodation are specific to the requirements of residential tenancies.

Reporting in CASES21

Annual Contract expenditure should be allocated in CASES21 to:

  • Sub Program Code: 6401 – Annual Contracts
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86501 – Sanitation (includes septic tanks)
    • General Ledger Account Code: 86504 – Building works

SRP funding for Annual Contracts is calculated at the Indicative and Confirmed cycles and may be updated at the Revised cycle. Funding is allocated through cash funding.


Workers' Compensation (Reference 37)

Workers’ Compensation (Reference 37)

Each school’s workers’ compensation budget allocation has been determined by applying an averaged claim cost rate for each school type to the remuneration of each school.

The amount charged against a school’s workers’ compensation budget allocation is based on the actual incurred costs of claims that have been lodged at the school during the 2024/2025 workers’ compensation premium calculation period from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2024.

If the total cost of these claims is greater than a school’s workers’ compensation budget allocation, the school is required to pay all or part of the difference, capped at 0.5% of its remuneration up to a maximum of $25,000.

Savings capped at 0.5% of remuneration, up to a maximum of $25,000 accrue to those schools with claims costs less than their workers’ compensation budget allocations. Full 2025 Workers’ Compensation budget allocations, charge out amounts and end of year balance details are in the Workers’ Compensation Summary StatementExternal Link .

Notes

Exempt category claims

The following categories of claims are eligible for exemption from the calculation of a school’s Student Resource Package (SRP) Workers’ Compensation cost:

  • workers’ compensation claims that have injury dates prior to 1 July 2000
  • workers’ compensation claims from staff who work across a number of schools
  • workers’ compensation claims accepted in error by the department’s WorkSafe agent, Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd
  • workers’ compensation claims arising from participation in the Teacher Games.

Consideration will also be given to exempting schools from the costs of claims:

  • from staff who have been the subject of compassionate transfer because of health reasons
  • from principals and other staff whose claims are associated with unsatisfactory performance or discipline proceedings.

Schools that have claims in these categories lodged over the period from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2025 or who wish to seek an exemption, should notify the Workers’ Compensation Team, at workers.compensation.advisory@education.vic.gov.au by 30 June 2026.

Schools may request the school's workers’ compensation cost be reviewed by the Workers’ Compensation Claims Advisory Service. Schools should provide details of the circumstances to be taken into consideration as part of the request. The Return to Work and Compensation team will advise schools of the results of these reviews.


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

Contract cleaning schedule

Contract cleaning schedule – spreadsheet (XLS)External Link — this sets out the ‘cleanable area’, which is informed by a school’s student population, used to calculate a school’s budget.

Contacts for Whole of Victorian Government energy contracts

Electricity

Natural gas

Water


Reviewed 13 September 2023