Funding for professional learning for all school staff is allocated through the School Budget Allocation Report (SBAR) and must be effectively aligned to professional learning initiatives in each school’s Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP). Information on the use of school funding and effective school practice can be found in the SBAR essential updates and the SBAR resource hub.

Professional learning funding may be utilised by schools for:

• teacher relief for staff engaging in professional learning
  
• course costs for staff undertaking recognised courses
• presentations by suitable and qualified facilitators, for example diabetes or first aid workshops
• other methods of learning designed to improve student outcomes.

Schools receive additional funding for a range of specific purposes, from which it may be appropriate for a proportion to be used to support relevant professional learning. Examples include:

Refugee student support – supporting teachers to differentiate teaching and learning through EAL/D professional learning that focuses on refugee education

Integration funding support – providing release for professional learning regarding a specific disability

English language proficiency equity loading – implementing an extensive professional learning model involving workshops, collaborative planning and an action research project through which all teachers improve their knowledge, understanding and application of EAL/D pedagogies

Aboriginal background equity loading – promoting the inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives and content across all subjects and key learning areas

Low level adjustment for disability equity loading – engaging experts from a variety of sources to provide targeted professional learning for staff across Community of Schools to build staff capacity

Beginning teacher support funding – supporting a beginning teacher’s participation in targeted professional learning activities that are specifically designed to support their development.

Quality Teaching Successful Students funding - provided to schools with primary student enrolments to be used flexibly for staffing to implement evidence-based strategies to improve teaching quality and enhance professional practice.