Approval

85. Upon receipt of approval from the Minister, the NT BGA shall inform the relevant schools within fourteen days, and advise them to complete working drawings and specifications and proceed to tender.

Acceptance

86. Schools will be requested to formally accept the offer of a grant in writing at this stage by completing the proforma acceptance letter.

87. The Australian Government requires BGAs to ensure that grant and other conditions which attach to the approvals and are imposed on schools can be fulfilled. Schools offered grants must have entered into written agreements with the NT BGA, accepting all conditions attached to the grants. See Agreements with schools.

88. The Minister reserves the right to make announcements and to inform Members of Parliament and schools about the approval of projects. This may occur before the NT BGA has been advised of project approvals. The NT BGA is not able to publicly

announce the approval of grants or advise schools until DET formally advises the NT BGA of the Minister’s approval.

89. Under no circumstances may the tendering process or project commencement begin until notification from the NT BGA that the Minister has approved the project, which shall be known as approval ‘in principle’.

This provision must apply even if the Minister has made some form of public statement about the approval of the project before the school has been notified by the NT BGA.

90. Schools, therefore, may not release information about grants until the NT BGA gives permission to do so, even if a public statement from the Minister, or local member, has already been made.

Announcements

Openings

91. It is a condition of accepting Australian Government funding that schools in receipt of a grant will invite the appropriate Minister to attend the official opening of the facility. The Minister, at his or her discretion, may nominate a representative to be his/her delegate for this purpose. Schools must ensure that the Minister is invited to attend at least two months prior to the date set down for the official opening. Download this fillable PDF form and when completed email/send to relevant minister.

92. Where schools wish to dispute the decisions of the NT BGA in respect of funding recommendations or levels of grant, they must do so in writing to the Chairperson of the NT BGA within fourteen days of receiving notification of the result of their applications. Any such appeal must include the perceived grounds for disagreement with the decision of the NT BGA.

93. Only two grounds for appeal will be admissible:

a) that the school can prove a higher level of educational need than another which has been recommended for funding in the same round; or

b) that the school can demonstrate a failure on behalf of the NT BGA to follow its own published procedures.

94. The Appeals Committee will hear the appeal within fourteen days of the school's lodgement of appeal. A decision must be made based upon:

a) the original application,

b) the grounds of the appeal and

c) any further information which the Appeals committee or the appellant school may feel is relevant

to either confirm or set aside the original decision of the NT BGA. The decision of the Appeals Committee will be final and binding.

95. The Chairperson of the NT BGA Board of Management will inform the school of the decision of the Appeals Committee and if necessary arrange for any adjustment(s) to be made to the proposed schedule of grants.

Appeals

96. An Appeals Committee will only be formed when an appeal has been lodged with the NT BGA Board of Management. When the Committee has made its recommendations known to the Chairperson of the NT BGA Board of Management it will be dissolved. The decision of the Appeals Committee will be final and binding. No further appeal by any party will be heard.

97. The Appeals Committee will consist of the following representatives:

a) Executive Officer of the Association of Independent Schools(NT), or a nominated representative

b) Chief Executive Officer of the NT Christian Schools Association or a nominated representative

c) A representative of the Catholic Sector nominated by the Director of Catholic Education.

98. This Committee will:

a) Elect its Chairperson

b) Hear the appeal within fourteen days of the school's lodgment of appeal.

c) Be supported by the NT BGA'S Executive Officer

99. The Chairperson of the Appeals Committee must inform the Chairperson of the NT BGA in writing within seven (7) days of the decision.

Appeals Committee