Executive Director’s Update to Principals #57 - 1 December 2022
Capital Funding Updates
Schools Upgrade Fund – Applications now open.
The Australian Government has established the Schools Upgrade Fund, which is intended to help support more equitable access to resources for students and schools, to help keep students safe and get their education back on track after disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will provide funding to schools to help improve ventilation and air quality and make small scale improvements including building and maintaining outdoor learnings spaces, upgrade ICT equipment, and repairs to school facilities.
There will be an open round of $32 million dollars funding that will be open to all schools – Government, Catholic and Independent and will provide grants of up to $25,000 per school with eligible projects being prioritised based on project need and relative school disadvantage.
Further information and guidelines are available here.
Applications are now open and close on Friday 24th February 2023 with successful schools to be notified in May 2023, with funding to be provided in June 2023.
Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP).
Whilst a date for applications for the Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP) has not yet been confirmed, it is expected that this may be in line with previous years with applications opening in late January and closing in March.
Victorian Government Non-Government Schools Capital Fund.
With the recent Victorian Election now being complete, we are required to wait for further information from the Victorian Government in relation to the timing and guidelines for the next Victorian Government Non-Government Schools Capital Fund program, but again encourage schools to continue to prepare Masterplans, project proposals and quantity surveyors estimates so that they are ready to submit when applications open.
DOBCEL will be run information sessions next year on Capital Funding, Masterplans and Educational Briefs to assist schools with future applications.
If you have any queries regarding any of the above capital funding opportunities or require additional support with your application, please contact Ashley Wiseman, Manager: Planning and Infrastructure via phone 0484 819 360 or email.
New Child Safe Risk Management Policy, Guidelines and Risk Register
Please note that documents referenced below are accessible within eSORT via SIMON.
eSORT assists in managing and storing relevant documents to meet compliance, statutory, organisational and governance requirements around risk. It also assists in the process of managing potential risks.
Key Points.
- The new Child Safe Risk Management Policy, Guidelines and Child Safe Risk Register are now available to schools.
- This policy replaces the existing Child Safe Risk Management Policy, and the Child Safe Risk Management Guidelines are new and are not replacing any existing document.
- The purpose of these documents is to assist schools to identify, document, manage and control child safety risks in the school environment.
- These documents apply across all DOBCEL Schools and communicates how schools will prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. This policy sets out DOBCEL’s expectations in relation to the risk assessment and management of child safety risks.
- The Child Safe Risk Register replaces an existing Child Safe Risk Register.
- This register requires contextualising to ensure that it is relevant to each school’s unique environment.
Action required by 6 February 2023.
- The Child Safe Risk Management Policy replaces the previous Child Safe Risk Management Policy.
- Retire (and archive) the previous Child Safe Risk Management Policy in eSORT.
- The Child Safe Risk Register replaces the previous Child Safe Risk Register.
- Retire (and archive) the previous Child Safe Risk Register.
- The Child Safe Risk Register must be contextualised to ensure relevance to each individual school’s environment.
- The Child Safe Risk Register is NOT to be uploaded to the school’s website, it is for internal use only.
Emergency Management - Summer 2022 to 2023
Please see the attached document below for Emergency Management Preparedness for Summer 2022-2023.
This document provides important information surrounding:
- Reviewing and updating Emergency Management Plans
- School Maintenance
- School Camps and Excursions
- Introduction of new Australian Fire Danger Rating System
- Actions Required
- Additional Information and Contacts
Chapel Available for Relocation
A little Chapel currently located in Melbourne has become available for relocation, please see photos here.
If any School or College has any interest in relocating this chapel or wishes to find out more, please contact Ashley Wiseman, Manager: Planning and Infrastructure, on 0484 819 360.