Elite Victorian schools receiving JobKeeper to keep staff employed
Some of the state’s wealthiest private schoolare receiving generous JobKeeper payments, in addition to multimillion-dollar federal handouts, pricey fees and generous alumni donations. Here’s how.
Education
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Some of the state’s wealthiest private schools are receiving generous JobKeeper payments designed for struggling workers in battling businesses.
The funds come in addition to multimillion-dollar annual federal handouts, parent fees of up to $40,000 a year and calls for donations from alumni.
The Herald Sun has learned that at least one quarter of the state’s 219 independent schools are receiving $1500 a fortnight to pay the wages of some teaching and non-teaching staff members.
The Herald Sun has seen a list of 16 schools who have already been accepted, along with 30 who have applied because they meet the criteria of a 30 per cent drop in turnover.
Geelong Grammar, which had a total income of $38 million in 2018, including $7 million in federal funds, is now receiving JobKeeper to keep some of its staff employed.
Principal Rebecca Cody said the school has been “acutely impacted by the inability to provide residential learning for our students”.
“Our operations will continue to be affected adversely until we are able to resume our usual services, fee structures and billing cycle, and our students are all able to return for on campus learning and living,” she said.
Nearly 80 per cent of the school’s students are boarders and the prestigious grammar school could not charge boarding fees last term and was forced to turn away international students.
Many private schools have struggled financially since school shutdowns in March. They granted parents discounts of up to 25 per cent and gave those in hardship fee deferrals or payment plans.
However, the issue has divided the private school community, with some eligible schools not applying for the handout for ethical reasons. It is understood one such school includes Trinity Grammar, which could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Beth Blackwood, CEO of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools Australia, said many private schools reviewed their finances rather than applied for JobKeeper. “If they thought the school had the financial security to survive, they would think twice, even if they met the guidelines,” she said.
Other schools such as Melbourne Grammar School are not receiving the payments because they don’t meet the eligibility criteria. A spokesman for St Kevin’s College said the school was not receiving the handout.
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