Victorian students and teachers are set to benefit from an expanded network of education partners, with the state government announcing new funding that strengthens opportunities for organisations seeking to engage directly with schools.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Mr Ben Carroll confirmed that almost 90 organisations will receive support through the Strategic Partnerships Program (SPP), creating wider platforms for providers to deliver innovative learning experiences from 2026.
More than $10 million in four-year grants has been allocated to major institutions including ACMI, Creative Victoria, Museums Victoria, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Sovereign Hill and Zoos Victoria. These partnerships underpin large-scale education programs that collectively reach more than 700,000 Victorian students each year.
For the first time, the SPP includes a dedicated creative arts stream, with 14 organisations – among them the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Theatre Company and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art – receiving more than $3 million over four years to expand professional development and learning opportunities.
A further $6.3 million will be shared across 68 groups in the latest competitive round of funding. These projects include STEM Sisters, which will deliver hands-on STEM activities designed to inspire primary students.
The government is also extending its partnership with the Gandel Foundation, ensuring another two years of the successful School Visits to Cultural Museums Project. The additional support will allow 80 more regional or financially disadvantaged schools to provide free excursions to the Islamic Museum of Australia, Melbourne Holocaust Museum, Jewish Museum of Australia and the Immigration Museum.
The SPP is a long-standing grants initiative supporting not-for-profit organisations to deliver programs that enrich teaching and learning across the state. Since 2022, the program has provided more than $20 million in grants. The current funding round runs until the end of 2025 and supports almost 90 programs reaching 900,000 students and 20,000 teachers annually.
“Funding from the Strategic Partnerships Program will continue to inspire Victorian students and teachers by providing unique educational experiences and taking our students outside the classroom to learn in the real world,” Mr Carroll said.
“Victoria isn’t just the Education State – we’re the arts, culture and tourism capital of Australia, and these partnerships bring the benefits of these sectors into our schools.”
