Australian Government recurrent funding for schools is based on the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). This funding is passed onto Approved Authorities who are responsible for the administration and operation of schools. For government schools, the approved authority is the relevant state or territory. For non-government schools, the approved authority is the body corporate approved by the Minister for the school.
The Australian Education Act 2013 (the Act) recognises that Approved Authorities are best placed to understand the individual needs of their students and schools. Approved Authorities for more than one school are able to distribute the Commonwealth funding they receive among their schools in either of two ways:
- according to the Schooling Resource Standard (under subsection 78(4) of the Act); or
- by choosing to redistribute that funding among its individual member schools according to their own needs-based funding arrangements (under subsection 78(5) of the Act).
Approved Authorities that redistribute funding in accordance with subsection 78(5) of the Act are known as Approved System Authorities and are required to make their needs-based funding arrangements publicly available and transparent.
To find out more information about your school, its Approved Authority, and the funding it receives please visit the MySchool website.
Who are the Approved Authorities for more than one school?
Government Approved System Authorities (State and Territory Governments)
For government schools, the approved authority is the relevant state or territory government. All states and territory governments redistribute funding between members schools according to their own needs-based funding arrangement, as per subsection 78(5) of the Act.
| System name | Need-based funding arrangement | |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Education Northern Territory | School Resourcing Model | |
| ACT Education Directorate | Student Resource Allocation | |
| Department of Education Tasmania | Educational Adjustments funding model | |
| Department of Education Western Australia | Student-centred funding model | |
| Department of Education New South Wales | Resource Allocation Model | |
| Department of Education Queensland | State Schools Resourcing Framework | |
| Department for Education South Australia | Funding policy for schools and preschools - Resource entitlement statement (RES) supporting information | |
| Department of Education and Training Victoria | Student Resource Package | |
Catholic Approved System Authorities
The following Catholic Approved System Authorities redistribute funding between members schools according to their own needs-based funding arrangement, as per subsection 78(5) of the Act.
Independent Approved System Authorities
| Name | Needs-based funding arrangement |
|---|---|
| Al Faisal College Limited | Needs-Based Funding Arrangement |
| Albury Wodonga Community College Limited (‘Indie’ School) | Indie School – Needs Based Funding Approach |
| Anglican School Commission (Southern Queensland) | Overview of Needs-Based Funding Distribution Principals Anglican Schools Queensland System |
| Anglican Schools Commission (Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria) | Distribution of Commonwealth Recurrent Funding |
| Anglican Schools Corporation | Distribution of government recurrent funding in Anglican Schools Corporation |
| Ecumenical Schools Australia | Ecumenical School Needs Based Funding Agreement 2021 |
| Lutheran Education South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia | Finance Policy – Needs-based Funding Distribution |
| Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District | Overview of Needs-Based Funding Distribution Arrangements |
| Lutheran Church of Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania | LEVNT Needs-Based Funding Principles |
| NT Christian Schools | Overview of Needs-Based Funding Distribution Principles |
| Newcastle Anglican Schools Corporation | Needs-Based Funding Distribution Principals |
| Seventh-Day Adventist Schools North NSW Limited | SDA Schools (NNSW) Ltd – Needs-Based Funding Arrangement |
| Seventh-Day Adventist Schools South Queensland Limited | Seventh-day Adventist Schools (South Queensland) Ltd Needs-based Funding Arrangement 2020 |
| Seventh Day Adventist Schools (South New South Wales) Limited | |
| Seventh Day Adventist Schools Victoria Limited | Commonwealth Recurrent School Funding |
| Swan Christian Education Association | Needs-Based Funding Arrangement |
Independent Approved Authorities for more than one school
These Approved Authorities distribute funding according to the SRS with no reallocation between member schools, as per subsection 78(4) of the Act.
| Christian Community Ministries Ltd | Summerland Christian Life Centre Ltd |
| Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT) | The Tamworth Christian Education Association Limited |
| Trustees of the Christian Brothers | The Council of St Andrew's Cathedral School |
| The Presbyterian Church New South Wales Property Trust | FSAC Ltd |
| The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) | Campbelltown Anglican Schools Council |
| St Philip's Christian Education Foundation Limited | Winifred West Schools Limited |
| Christian Schools Tasmania | Australian Industry Trade College Ltd |
| The Uniting Church In Australia Property Trust (Q) | Carey Baptist College Inc |
| Christian Outreach Centre | Wesley College Melbourne |
| PARED Ltd | The Salvation Army (Qld) Property Trust |
| Mercy Education Limited | Pacific Coast Christian School Limited |
| The Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association | Australian International Academy of Education Inc |
| Youth Off The Streets Limited | Trustees of the Marist Brothers |
| Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed Schools | Trustees of the Christian Brothers (Queensland) |
| The Trustees of the Sydney Grammar School | The Council of the King's School |
| Australian Islamic College (Perth) Inc | South Australian Anglican Schools System Incorporated |
| The Baptist Union of Queensland- Community Services Group | Seventh Day Adventist Schools Western Australia Limited |
| The Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia | Seventh-Day Adventist Schools (Tasmania) Limited |
| Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children | Seventh-Day Adventist Schools (Greater Sydney) Limited |
| Al Faisal College Limited | Seventh-Day Adventist Schools South Australia Limited |
| Illawarra Association for Christian Parent Controlled Education | Seventh-Day Adventist Schools Northern Territory Limited |
Note: The Department is currently working with Approved System Authorities to develop a shared understanding around needs-based funding arrangements under section 78(5) and the applicable legislative requirements. This is based on recommendations from the National School Resourcing Board’s Review of Needs Based Funding Requirements.
For further information about Approved System Authorities’ Needs Based Funding arrangements contact the relevant authority.
How is Australian Government funding for schools distributed according to need?
Australian Government recurrent funding for schools is based on the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). This funding is passed onto Approved Authorities who are responsible for the administration and operation of schools.
