New Partnerships To Inspire Students Beyond The Classroom

Victorian students and teachers will have even more opportunities to learn beyond the classroom, with the Allan Labor Government expanding support for innovative education partnerships across the state.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today announced grants to almost 90 organisations through the Strategic Partnerships Program (SPP), which will deliver innovative programs from 2026 that enrich and enhance learning and professional development.

More than $10 million in four-year grants will support ACMI, Creative Victoria, Museums Victoria, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Sovereign Hill and Zoos Victoria – helping them deliver large education programs that reach more than 700,000 Victorian students every year.

For the first time, the SPP also includes a dedicated creative arts stream, awarding four-year grants to 14 key creative arts organisations – including Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Over the next four years, these organisations will receive more than $3 million, providing greater opportunities for learning and professional development.

The Minister also announced the results of the SPP’s competitive grant round, with 68 groups set to share $6.3 million over the next 2 years. Funded projects include STEM Sisters, which will inspire primary students in STEM through hands-on activities.

The Government will also continue its partnership with the Gandel Foundation through the SPP to continue the successful School Visits to Cultural Museums Project for a further two years.

This means 80 more schools in regional or financially disadvantaged areas can provide free excursions for students to the Islamic Museum of Australia, the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Museum of Australia and the Immigration Museum and build cultural understanding.

The SPP is a long-standing grants initiative that funds not‑for‑profit organisations to provide innovative programs for Victorian students and teachers.

Since 2022, the SPP has issued grants totalling more than $20 million. The current SPP funding round runs until the end of 2025 and is supporting almost 90 programs that benefit 900,000 students and 20,000 teachers per year.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Ben Carroll

“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.”

“Victoria isn’t just the Education State - we’re the arts, culture and tourism capital of Victoria, and these partnerships bring the benefits of these sectors into our schools.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks

“These new partnerships with our creative organisations will help more students have the opportunity to embrace the arts in the classroom.”