Schools Assistance Act 2008

This section is a simplified outline of this Part.

Financial assistance to a State for a non‑government school, or another non‑government body, must not be paid unless there is an agreement between the Commonwealth and the relevant authority of the school or body.

The agreement must cover matters including the following:

national performance and transparency requirements (see Subdivision B of Division 3);

grant acquittal and reporting requirements (see Subdivision C of Division 3);

monitoring, evaluation and compliance requirements (see Subdivision D of Division 3).

The following additional conditions apply to the grant of financial assistance to a State for a non‑government school or another non‑government body (see Divisions 2 and 4):

in the case of financial assistance for a school—the school must be an approved school;

the school or body must be financially viable;

the State must pay amounts of assistance to the relevant authority of the school or body as soon as practicable (or within an extended period allowed by the Minister).

If a non‑government school, or another non‑government body, breaches a funding agreement, the Minister may (under the agreement) require the school or body to repay an amount to the Commonwealth. The Minister may also reduce or delay the amount of other payments for the school or body under this Act.

See section 27.

If a State fails to pass on an amount of financial assistance to a non‑government school, or another non‑government body, for which financial assistance is granted under this Act, the Minister may require the State to repay an amount to the Commonwealth.

See Division 4.