Schools Assistance Act 2008

The Minister may make a determination authorising payment of financial assistance to a State for expenditure approved by the Minister for a program year connected with the education, at non‑government schools in country areas of the State, of students who are educationally disadvantaged because of their geographical isolation.

The sum of the amounts paid to the States under subsection (1) for a program year must not exceed the amount worked out using the formula:

if the regulations specify an amount under subsection (3) for the program year—that amount; or

otherwise:

in the case of the 2009 program year—$5,246,000; or

in the case of a later program year—the amount worked out under this subsection for the previous program year.

For the purposes of subsection (2), the regulations may specify an amount to be the base assistance amount for a program year.

If the amount worked out under subsection (2) for a program year is not a multiple of $1,000, the amount is to be rounded to the nearest $1,000 (rounding $500 upwards).

Financial assistance under this Division is in addition to the assistance that is available under section 97 (students who are educationally disadvantaged).