This page provides important information for Victorian government schools applying for the Australian Government Schools Upgrade Fund (SUF).
All Victorian government schools must seek endorsement from the VSBA to be eligible for the fund. You can do this via our endorsement . All government schools are invited to apply.
You can read the guidelines for the Schools Upgrade Fund (SUF) on the SUF .
Fund overview
The Australian Government will invest $215.8 million to support capital infrastructure projects. The SUF invests in large building projects. These include new buildings and facilities or major upgrades.
In Round 2 of the fund, the Australian Government will invest $48.1 million to improve Victorian government schools.
Grants are available for projects above $250,000.
Projects may include (but are not limited to):
- building or upgrading specialist facilities
- upgrading playgrounds and outdoor learning areas
- replacing relocatable buildings.
The SUF can also include minor capital works projects that exceed $250,000. Schools are encouraged to submit minor capital works projects, as opposed to large scale projects, to share available funding across schools.
As per the Australian Government guidelines, Round 2 funding will prioritise schools experiencing the greatest disadvantage, including schools:
- with a low Index of Community Socio-educational Advantage value
- that have not received significant capital funding ($250,000 or more) in the past 2 years
- that cater to disadvantaged students, such as:
- special schools
- special schools
- majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander schools.
Additionally, we'll consider:
- if the project is a priority condition project
- the school's commitment to maintaining their school site
- projects that cannot be funded through existing school funds
- compliance with relevant Departmental facilities policies including, but not limited to:
- feasibility of the proposed project.
How to apply
1. Seek VSBA endorsement for your project proposal.
You must complete the online VSBA endorsement by Wednesday 20 December 2023.
If you do not submit a VSBA endorsement form but submit a SUF Expression of Interest, your application will not be considered.
We will email schools with the outcome by Tuesday 20 February 2024. The email will include:
- guidance about what to include in sections D and E (questions 7–11) of the Australian Government Expression of Interest Form
- preliminary costings for schools to use in the SUF Expression of Interest form.
To support this process, any communication relating to your project proposal should be responded to promptly from the start of Term 1, 2024.
2. If endorsed, complete the SUF Expression of Interest form.
You must complete an online SUF Expression of Interest by Thursday 29 February 2024.
Endorsement of a submission does not guarantee that the project will be recommended for funding. Applications are subject to further costing, assessment, and prioritisation process.
We will build all successful projects in line with, but not limited to, the department’s Capital Building Projects in Schools .
Did you apply for the Minor Capital Works Fund 2023–24 or Inclusive Schools Fund – Round 9?
Schools that applied for these grants can expect to hear the outcome from December 2023.
We encourage schools that applied for these grants to submit the same application for the SUF. It will give another opportunity to receive funding. Projects that receive funding from the Minor Capital Works Fund or Inclusive Schools Fund will not be recommended for the Schools Upgrade Fund.
Policy, guidance and resources
See our Capital Building Projects in policy for related policy information, guidance and resources.
Find out more
For more information, refer to Schools Upgrade on the Australian Government website.
For further enquiries, contact the School Grants unit by email: schools.upgrade.fund@education.vic.gov.au
Download a pdf version of this information
Reviewed 08 November 2023