Thousands of Victorian students are heading out to school camps where they will develop new skills and connect better with classmates and teachers – while boosting their physical and emotional health.
The 2023-24 state budget has invested $299 million over four years to increase funding for the Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund (CSEF), and give teachers and support staff extra pay for their time and effort at school camps.
This means schools will also now have more flexibility with how they staff school camps with teachers and support staff properly recognised for their time supporting students.
Teachers and support class staff who attend camps will now receive time-in-lieu of $200 or up to four hours in overtime payments per night away. This has been backdated to the start of the year.
The state government has also announced a boost in funding of $25 per student for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund in recognition of the increases in the costs of camps, sports and excursions.
Eligibility for the CSEF is primarily for families with a valid means-tested concession card, or for families who may not have a concession card like foster carers and asylum seeker/refugee families.
Education Minister Natalie Hutchins said the state government is proud to support so many Victorian children to experience the joy of school camps and the lifelong memories they create.
“Schools are now able to run camps with flexibility and security, knowing they have increased funding required to meet time-in-lieu commitments,” she said.
