Families with children attending schools across the Macedon electorate have received almost $1.68 million through the Victorian Government’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), according to figures released by local MP Mary-Anne Thomas.
The fund helps eligible families meet the cost of school camps, sporting activities, excursions and incursions. Payments are made directly to schools and can be used for approved activities, including camps, outdoor education programs, school sports, swimming programs and graduations.
Among local schools, families at Daylesford College, eligible families have received a total of $274,292. At Gisborne Secondary College have received $421,073 through the program, while Kyneton High School families have received $285,881.
The Victorian Government announced in the 2025-26 Budget that funding for the program would increase from 2026. Eligible primary and secondary students will receive $400 per year, replacing the previous payments of $154 for primary students and $256 for secondary students. The budget includes $152.3 million for the expansion of the program.
The fund is available to eligible families at both government and non-government schools. Applicants must generally hold a valid means-tested concession card, be a temporary foster parent, or qualify under special consideration provisions. Applications are made through a child’s school, with payments credited directly to the school’s account for the student’s benefit. Families with more than one child at the same school can also combine their CSEF payments for a particular activity if they choose.
The announcement coincides with new data from the Australian Camps Association, which found that almost one million Victorian students attended school camps in 2024, more than the combined total for New South Wales and Queensland, according to the association.
Further information about eligibility and applications is available on the Victorian Government’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund website.
This article is based on a media release from Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas.
