Funding
NSW provides recurrent financial assistance to non-government schools. Funding is provided in accordance with the NSW Education Act 1990 to non-government schools that are registered by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and that do not operate for profit.
NSW supports needs-based funding for all schools, and funding to non-government schools is aligned with the Australian Government's Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). The SRS is an estimate of how much government funding a school requires to meet the educational needs of its students. The Australian Government determines a school’s SRS and changes made by the Australian Government to a school’s SRS would flow on through to NSW funding.
From 2019, NSW started the transition to fund non-government schools at 20% of their SRS by 2029. The Australian Government began transitioning its funding to 80% of SRS in 2018. New schools will be funded at 100% of their SRS (80% from the Australian Government and 20% from the NSW Government).
For more information on NSW financial assistance to non-government schools, please see the below:
Non-government schools are funded under a needs-based model, with payments by the NSW and Australian Governments made according to the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).
NSW payments have aligned with the Australian Government, with NSW payments made in February, August and November.
| Month | February | August | November (wash-up) |
|---|---|---|---|
% of SRS entitlement |
50% |
25% |
25% |
The November payment (wash-up payment) will include relevant adjustments from the Non-government schools census managed by the Australian Government.
Criteria applies to the expenditure of NSW Government financial assistance by nongovernment schools. Schools must spend, or commit to spend, their funding for providing school education, on any of the below Educational Purposes:
- teaching and ancillary staff salaries
- professional development
- curriculum development
- maintenance
- general operations
- expenditure on capital equipment
- expenditure on capital works for schools classified as having zero capacity to contribute
Capital equipment generally includes items such as furniture, air-conditioning/heating units, computers, and other Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
This criteria broadly aligns with the Australian Government guidelines, enabling schools to spend NSW and Australian Government funding under a similar set of rules.
Schools will complete a NSW Financial Accountability Certificate. Certifications will need to be signed by ASIC registered auditors.
For general enquiries about NSW funding for non-government schools, email NGSFU@det.nsw.edu.au.