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Commonwealth Drought Assistance for Schools Program (DAP)

Purpose

This program is intended to make it easier for rural families to meet ongoing education expenses and the cost of educational activities such as student excursions, which may be cost prohibitive for families experiencing financial hardship as a result of the drought.

Expenditure guidelines

Drought Assistance may be used to assist with the cost of items such as:

text books
uniforms
subject levies
excursions
student attendance at extra curricular activities
other support which offers relief to drought affected families and is related to their schooling.

Funds must not be used for capital expenditure, staff salaries, utilities costs, purchase of equipment, stationery and other day-to-day consumables and school maintenance costs.

Although this is a Commonwealth funded program there are no specific acquittal requirements. It would be expected that all funding received would be spent as soon as possible but no later than the end of the calendar year in which it is received.

Grant revenue may be recorded as a core funding e.g. YC** (with the school determining the final two characters).

Duration of program

The program covers schools in areas with 'exceptional circumstances' drought declarations in 2007, and for subsequent years.

Policy reference

Guidelines for Government Schools 21 Nov 2007 on the DEST website

Eligibility

School entitlements are automatic once 'exceptional circumstances' declaration has been made and schools will receive their entitlement as a single annual payment.

Form of assistance

Funds provided by the Australian Government will be distributed as a grant direct to schools from Central Office.

Payment details

Annual payment following receipt of funding from the Commonwealth Government

Allocation of funds

Funding will consist of a base entitlement of $1000 per school plus a per capita allowance of $100 for every enrolled Full Time Equivalent (FTE) student, up to a maximum of $10,000 per school per year.

Current rates

Limit for funding in respect of any one school is $10,000 per year.

Data requirements

Data requirements for Commonwealth Drought Assistance Program
Data required	Data source	Time collected
EQ Students - July census enrolment data	Performance, Monitoring and Reporting	July

Contact

Senior Resource Officer
School and Commonwealth Resourcing
Telephone: (07) 3234 1745

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