South Australian schools will share in $14.2 million as part of the Australian government's one-off student wellbeing boost funding. The student wellbeing boost aims to support how schools respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools can spend the funding on activities that support student mental health and wellbeing.

The Australian Government has set guidance for how schools can use the funding. Schools can:

• engage extra school mental health and wellbeing professionals
• host school camps, excursions, sporting or other social activities that improve students' wellbeing
• engage proven student engagement and mental health initiatives

Funding allocation to schools

• Every school in South Australia will receive funding from the student wellbeing boost. We’ll work with the Catholic Education South Australia and the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia on how the funding is allocated to schools in all 3 sectors.
• As required by the Australian Government the allocations have considered student demographics, size and location of schools.
• Schools can also join together to pool the funding for a shared initiative.

Timelines

• The funding will be allocated by 30 June 2023.
• The student wellbeing boost needs to be spent or committed to be spent by 31 March 2024.
• Funding needs to be spent in full by 30 June 2024.

Becoming a program provider to schools

• External programs can apply to become a program provider to schools. Visit our providing wellbeing programs to South Australian schools webpage to apply to be part of our new directory of external wellbeing programs.

Contact

For the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia, email office@ais.sa.edu.au.

For Catholic Education South Australia, contact the CESA Learning, Diversity and Wellbeing team at Mark.Simpson@cesa.catholic.edu.au.

For Department for Education enquiries, contact the Engagement and Wellbeing Directorate via education.wellbeing@sa.gov.au.