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Victorian Government Capital Grants

Apply for funding

Applications for Round 3 of the Victorian Government Building Fund for Non-Government Schools, for projects commencing in the 2026 calendar year, are now open.

Schools wishing to apply must submit their application through the Victorian Government SmartyGrants online portal. Applications will close at midnight on Monday 3 February 2025.

To apply for funding:

  • Schools will need to complete the application on SmartyGrants. A sample application is available in the resources section below to assist schools in preparing for the SmartyGrants submission.
  • Schools must complete Part B: BGA Excel Application, template and instructions available below.
    (The file is protected. If your school has not received the password, please contact Elizabeth Barnes.)
  • The school’s architect or design consultant must complete Part C: Application Feasibility Report, updated guidelines available below.
  • Part B and Part C must be uploaded into the SmartyGrants portal along with the following documents:
    a) 2023 Audited Accounts
    b) 2024 Final Management Accounts
    c) 2025 Fee Schedule
    d) Copy of Land Title for the site of the proposed project (if owned) or copy of signed lease agreement (if leasing)
    e) Signed Memorandum of Understanding with Professional Consultant to oversee the project (template below)

Schools are encouraged to consult the Program Guidelines (available below) as published by the Victorian School Building Authority before applying, particularly with regard to project categories and available funding, eligibility requirements and assessment criteria as outlined on pages 4 to 7.

For schools that were unable to join the Capital Funding Briefing held in August 2024, a recording of the presentation is available in isConnect. The presentation is in two parts and provides an overview of the application and assessment processes for both the Victorian Government Building Fund and the Australian Government Capital Grants Program.

For information relating to the Australian Government Capital Grants Program, please visit the CGP webpage.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us (contact details provided below).

About

The Victorian Government Building Fund for Non-Government Schools 2023–27 is providing $450 million to help build and upgrade Catholic and Independent schools in Victoria, with approximately $135 million available for eligible Independent schools over the next four years.

To be eligible to apply, a school must be a participant, or prospective participant, in the Victorian Independent Schools Block Grant Authority (VISBGA).

Schools are expected to contribute at least 20% of total project costs, with grants to be allocated across four project categories:

Projects in Category 1 and 2 must have a construction period of 18 months or less.

Projects in Category 3 and 4 must have a construction period of 12 months or less.

Schools may not receive more than one grant over the four rounds of funding for a project in category 1, 2 or 3. Schools may be eligible to receive a separate grant for a Category 4 project that solely addresses cladding and/or asbestos issues as part of a planned removal process, as well as a grant for a project in category 1,2 or 3.

Applications must be submitted online through the Department of Education’s SmartyGrants portal, where they will be assessed by both the VISBGA and the Department against the criteria below:

Schools are encouraged to carefully read the Program Guidelines as published by the Victorian School Building Authority, available below in the Resources section.

Please refer to the Apply for Funding section below to find out how to submit an application.

If you have any queries, please contact the VISBGA office:

Program timelines

Timelines for each round of the Fund are set out below:

 

ISV contacts

If you have any queries, please contact the VISBGA office:

isConnect