Grant categories will be announced on Monday 3 March with applications opening on Monday 17 March and closing on Thursday 24 April at 5pm.
New Grant Requirement
As a new requirement to the Grants program from this year, any school that is awarded a Grant must enter their garden project into a new ‘Best Use of a Grant’ Award category within 18 months of receiving their Grant.
Entries into the ‘Best Use of a Grant’ Award category will not be judged against gardens/garden projects entered in other Award categories and are not expected to be comparable in scope and scale.
‘Best use of a Grant’ entries require only a before and after photo, along with a brief description of your garden/garden project. A simple entry template will be provided.
VSGP will be judging the ‘Best Use of a Grant’ Award only against other entries in the same category and will not be judged on the size or scope of the project, but rather what your school was able to achieve with your grant.
VSGP will be judging the ‘Best Use of a Grant’ Award only against other entries in the same category and will not be judged on the size or scope of the project, but rather what your school was able to achieve with your grant.
Grant Categories with Nursery Vouchers
All nursery vouchers can be redeemed at a retail nursery which is a member of Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria (NGIV) and must be used before the expiry date. A list of retailers will be provided with the voucher. When choosing a nursery voucher category, please ensure your project budget takes the nursery purchases in consideration.
Edible Garden
Produce (vegetable, fruit, herb & bush tucker) gardens in which students are involved in planning, growing, preparing, consuming, or serving the products in their school and/or wider community.
6 grants @ $500 each – 2 per school category
Sponsored by
Garden Maintenance
Provides funds for schools to tidy/repair an existing garden/green area that needs some work to bring it back to order. Please view guidelines for exemptions.
24 grants @ $500 – 1 per school category, per regional catchment
Sponsored by
Habitat Garden
A biodiverse garden designed, to attract and support local flora and fauna, providing a sustainable habitat for wildlife, including birds, insects, mammals, and other creatures.
May include: Plants (indigenous, native, exotic or a mixture) to attract and support wildlife or pollinators (bees, butterflies, birds and/or other) and; elements such as, frog bogs, nesting boxes, insect hotels, lizard lounges.
6 grants @ $500 each – 2 per school category
Sponsored by
Sensory Garden
A garden that stimulates the use of the five senses. May include: scented and edible plants, water features designed to make sound and play over the hands, textured plants and ground coverings, use of colour, etc.
8 grants @ $500 each – 2 per school & kinder category – Kindergartens may enter this category
Sponsored by
School Yard Make Over
A larger scale project to improve a school yard’s green environment and student’s connection with nature.
3 grants @ $1000 each – 1 per school category
Sponsored by
Grant Categories with Local Nursery Vouchers
These nursery vouchers may only be redeemed at the Grant naming right sponsor nursery.
When choosing a local nursery grant category, you must be willing to travel to the sponsor nursery to redeem your items.
Local Nursery
A garden project of your own choice.
1 voucher valued at $500.
This voucher can be only redeemed at All Green Nurseries located at Hoppers Crossing – nursery, garden, landscaping, and building supplies.
Sponsored by
Local Nursery
A garden project of your own choice. 1 voucher valued at $500.
This voucher can be only redeemed at Diaco’s nurseries located at in Keilor, Mornington, Geelong (Newcomb) and Heatherton.
Sponsored by
Product Grant Categories
All product grants require the winning school to provide 3 photos of their prize to the VSGP for promotional use in an article – a photo of the school prior or receiving the product, one of the installation/use by students and one after its inclusion.
Garden Compost Soil
A compost soil mix for vegetables gardens (4-6 cubic metres). AGS to discuss individual requirements with the winning school.
1 compost soil package valued at $2000 including delivery.
Sponsored by
Garden Products & Tools
A package of garden products and tools for school garden. Valued at $1,000 including delivery.
Package includes: Wheelbarrow, shovels, rakes, gloves, hand tools (forks, trowels, scoop), gardening pop-up bags, bird netting, retractable hose, leaf scoops and cultihoe.
Sponsored by
Orchard Establishment
1 school orchard from Fleming’s Nurseries extensive product range valued at $1500 including delivery.
Sponsored by
Outdoor Common Room
Supply of plants to develop a shared outdoor space for the health and well-being of the school community which encourages earning through collaboration, develops friendships and a sense of belonging.
Supply of plants to the value of $2,000.
To view Warners Nursery plant supply, please go to: www.warners.com.au.
Sponsored by
Planting Compost Soil
Choose from BioGro‘s nutrient rich compost soils to improve your school’s/kinder’s garden bed soil’s health.
2 x soil packages valued at $1,000 each. Delivery free for areas local to Dandenong or New Bridge sites. Other locations, delivery will be charged. Kindergartens may enter this category.
Sponsored by
Seedling Tray Package
Receive 10 trays of a combination of herbs, vegetables and companion flowers seedling for your school garden. Delivered to your school or kinder.
4 packages valued at $500 each – one per school & kinder category – Kindergartens may enter this category
Sponsored by
Spring Seedling Package
A tray of 198 seedlings with a mixture of spring vegetables delivered to your school early September 2025 for planting in your school’s garden. No sowing of seeds needed, you save grow time and effort by simply transplanting straight to your garden. Seedlings have the same food and safety standards and requirements as commercial supermarkets.
4 seedling packages valued at $500 each including delivery – one per school & kinder category – Kindergartens may enter this category
Sponsored by
Steel Planter & Edging Package
Select from a range of long lasting and fully recyclable stylish rusted REDCOR weathering steel planters and landscape edging for your school yard project.
1 package to the value of $2,000 including delivery. Installation not included. To view the full range of products, visit: www.shapescaper.com.au
Sponsored by
Turf Victoria Establishment
Revitalise an area of your school with natural turf. Preparation and installation of the turf will be the responsibility of the school with guidance from the turf provider. Delivery and consultation costs are included.
1 package of 300 square metres of Eureka Premium VG Kikuyu & services valued at $4500 provided by Coolabah Turf.
Sponsored by
VegTrug Package
One medium VegTrug with frame, shade covers and side table, and four different size trellis frames. Soil & plants not included.
1 package valued @ $1,000 including delivery and set up.
Click here to view package.
Sponsored by
School Categories for Entry and Assessment
Due to differing school types and sizes, there are four categories for entry into the Grant program. You will be required to select your school category during the online entry process.
- Primary and Special Schools with under 280 pupils.
- Primary and Special Schools with over 280 pupils.
- P–9, P–12 and all Secondary Colleges.
- Kindergartens – can only enter Sensory Garden, Seedling Tray Package, Spring Seedling Package and Planting Compost Soil Grant categories.