General Frequently Asked Questions - National Secondary School Computer Fund

The Australian Government’s National Secondary School Computer Fund (the Fund) is investing $1.1 billion over five years to provide for new or upgraded information and communications technology (ICT) for secondary schools with students in Years 9 to 12.  Schools are able to apply for up to $1 million from the Fund dependent on enrolment and need and are able to purchase laptops, desktop computers, and other technologies.

This funding is in addition to existing Australian Government funding and also to the money the state and territory governments, Independent and Catholic education authorities have set aside for investing in ICT in their schools.

The Fund commenced in 2008, continues until 2012 and will be implemented by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.  The Fund will provide grants to schools to purchase new or upgrade existing ICT. 

All Australian government, Catholic and Independent secondary schools with students in Years 9 to 12 are eligible to apply for funding.  Allocation of funding will be based on school enrolment, need and capacity to use the new ICT effectively. 

No, the National Secondary School Computer Fund (the Fund) will provide grants to schools and school systems, rather than individuals.  Children receiving a home schooled education are not eligible to benefit from grants through the Fund.   

If parents or guardians of children are interested in purchasing laptop/desktop computers and other ICT equipment they may be eligible to claim for a 50 per cent refundable tax offset under the Education Tax Refund (ETR).  The 50 per cent ETR aims to help families meet the costs of educating their children and ensure they have access to the resources needed to improve education outcomes. 

The ETR will commenced on 1 July 2008. The refund will be available for eligible education expenses incurred from 1 July 2008, but will not cover those education expenses made prior to 1 July 2008. 

Further details are available at the Budget 2008 website. 

The Australian Government will enter into funding agreements with state and territory education authorities who will manage funds on behalf of government schools.

The Australian Government will enter into funding agreements with Block Grant Authorities who will manage funds on behalf of non-government (Catholic and Independent) schools.

These authorities are encouraged to take advantage of bulk purchasing arrangements.  This will enable economies of scale to be realised and residual funding to be put towards on-costs, effective deployment and other ICT equipment.

Block Grant Authorities (BGAs) are independent companies housed under the umbrella of the Association of Independent Schools and the Catholic Education Commission for each state and territory. There are fourteen BGAs in Australia, two in each state except for the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory who have a combined Catholic and Independent BGA.

BGAs sign a funding agreement with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to administer programs on behalf of the DEEWR  Once funding has been approved the BGA will manage the Funding Agreements on behalf of the Australian Government.

The Australian Government is committed to providing access to ICT for Years 9 to 12 students. The $1.1 billion available through the National Secondary School Computer Fund (the Fund) will achieve this objective.

Through Round One of the Fund, secondary schools that were identified as being most in need of ICT investment will be the first to receive funding from the first $100 million which was allocated in June 2008. This funding should take these schools from a current computer to student ratio of 1:8 or worse, to a target ratio of 1:2. 

A unit cost of $1,000 is being allocated for the purchase of computers and it is anticipated that economies of scale can be realised through bulk purchasing. Having addressed the need for computers and attained a ratio of one computer to two students in Years 9 to 12, the remaining funds can be used for the effective deployment of computers. This might include contributions to on-costs, for example, power, security, air-conditioning or network infrastructure.  Residual funds can also be used to purchase other ICT equipment such as interactive whiteboards, data projectors, printers or scanners.

The intent of the National Secondary School Computer Fund is to ensure every Year 9-12 student has access to ICT.

The National Secondary School Computer Fund is directed at students in Years 9 to 12. However, there may be benefits for the whole school.

The Australian Government has determined in the first instance to provide additional funding to all schools providing secondary education for students in Years 9 to 12 through the National Secondary School Computer Fund.

Pre-Schools and Primary Schools may wish to contact the relevant education authorities in their state to inquire about possible funding for ICT equipment.

Whether students are allowed to take laptops home is at the discretion of the individual school.  This decision will need to be made within the requirements of their education jurisdiction.

The Australian Government will not dictate the type or make of equipment to be purchased.  Schools need to determine their priorities for ICT with their school communities (including parents) and ensure they are consistent with their jurisdictional/education authorities’ systemic ICT plans/goals (as appropriate).

If a parent or guardian of a school-aged student would like to purchase a laptop, they may be eligible to apply for a tax refund through the Australian Government’s 50% Education Tax Refund (ETR).  Further details are available at the Budget 2008 website.

The Australian Government is taking the opportunity, through the Fund, to consider the ICT needs of special schools and students with special needs.  The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is currently consulting with special education stakeholders to consider the needs of these students in mainstream and special schools.

Equipment purchased with a grant provided under the National Secondary School Computer Fund is for use within the school and is not intended for parental use.

The National Secondary School Computer Fund will provide for all students in senior secondary schooling and this takes into account approximately 33,000 Indigenous students enrolled in Years 9 to 12 in Australian Schools.

Approximately 10,000 Indigenous students will directly benefit from the first round of funding.

The Government is working with state and territory colleagues to determine the process for disposal of computers and other ICT equipment.

You may also note the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO)  provides information on managing the environmental impact of ICT.

We appreciate comments and suggestions on the development of the National Secondary School Computer Fund.  If you would like to provide comments or suggestions contact us.

All schools will be expected to ensure appropriate content and safety mechanisms for students are in place and are consistent with the Australian Government’s cyber safety policy.  More information is available at the Netalert website

State, territory, Catholic and Independent education authorities have primary responsibility for decisions about design, purchase and use of educational hardware and software to meet the specific needs of their schools.

A thin client is a computer terminal that has its data and applications stored on a hard drive in a remote server.