The purpose of this policy is to ensure schools appropriately administer, and support families to access, the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) so that a family’s financial circumstances are not a barrier to student participation.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund expenditure $400 in 2026

The CSEF provides payments to assist eligible families to cover the costs of camps, sporting activities, excursions and incursions.

Payments are made directly to an eligible student’s school. Schools must use a CSEF payment only for the eligible student or for that student’s siblings. Where the application is for a student over 16 the CSEF payment can only be used for that student.

Where the eligible student leaves the Victorian education system and there are remaining and unspent funds these funds can be used by a sibling attending the same school.

Leaving the Victorian school system includes students leaving school for further education such as TAFE, university or other vocational institutions.

Students that are home schooled are not eligible for CSEF. Schools are required to keep CSEF funds for 12 months from the time a student is home schooled in the event the student may return to school. If the student is home schooled for more than 12 months, CSEF can be absorbed by the school to assist other students in need.

Some common examples of school-organised programs for which a CSEF payment may be used include:

  • school camps/trips

  • swimming extension activities and other school-organised sporting programs

  • outdoor education programs

  • excursions/incursions that are extracurricular as defined in the Parent Payments policy

  • graduations/valedictories. This cannot be used for social events such as formals and end of year functions.

The CSEF payment cannot be used towards:

  • books

  • stationery

  • school uniforms

  • before/after school care

  • locker hire

  • classroom and homework materials

  • formals or debutant balls

  • other expenses unrelated to camps, sports or excursions.