The Non-Government School Term Hostels (NGSTH) Programme is an Australian Government programme that commenced in 2005.
This four year initiative is targeted at not-for-profit non-government school term hostels that operate principally to accommodate primary and secondary students from rural and remote areas of Australia.
The objective of this Programme is to assist non-government school term hostels to provide a high standard of care to rural primary and secondary school students residing at the hostels. This initiative will also support rural communities by assisting hostels to provide an affordable alternative to boarding school or distance education for rural and remote families.
In 2007 under the NGSTH Programme, eligible hostels will attract an initial grant of $2,600 per year per eligible student. This amount is indexed annually by the Wage Cost Index No 1. Programme funds are to be used for the maintenance, operational and capital costs of the hostel and are not to be used to reduce hostel fees.
In 2006, the Australian Government provided funding to 18 hostels to a total of $1,450,020 (GST inclusive). In 2005, a total of $1,671,055 (GST inclusive) was provided to 19 hostels.
For more information on the NGSTH Programme see the Australian Government Programmes for Schools Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines - 2005 to 2008.
For further information about applying for NGSTH Programme funding, non-government school term hostels should contact the Director of the Capital Policy and Rural Education Section, DEST National Office on 02 6240 7461 or via email at ngsth@dest.gov.au.
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