The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AIS) has the responsibility of administering the following Australian Government Targeted Programmes for independent schools in NSW:

• Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programme
• ESL-New Arrivals Programme
• Country Areas Programme
• Languages Programme 

The Australian Government’s objectives for each area of the programme are:

Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programme To improve the literacy, numeracy and other learning outcomes of students who are educationally disadvantaged.

Country Areas Programme To help schools and school communities improve the educational outcomes and opportunities of students who are educationally disadvantaged because of their geographical isolation so that their learning outcomes match those of other students. The aim of the funding programme is to provide a range of activities and initiatives which enhance the educational achievements and increase the opportunities and choice available to geographically isolated students.

ESL-New Arrivals Programme To improve the educational outcomes and opportunities of newly arrived students of non-English speaking backgrounds by developing their English language competence and facilitating their participation in mainstream education activities.

Languages Programme To support the teaching and learning of Asian, European, Australian Indigenous languages and Auslan in schools and community language programmes in ethnic schools.

Applications are invited in August each year for grants to independent schools educating targeted students in the following school year in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs, Languages and the Country Areas Programme. A supplementary round of funding is available in Term 1 to support the education of students with disabilities who have recently been identified or have newly arrived at school.

ESL-New Arrivals applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

All applications are assessed by external assessment committees of relevant professionals using the guidelines detailed in the Australian Government Programme for Schools Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines. The assessment committees are chaired by the AIS but there are no AIS staff on any assessment committees.

Recommendations made by both the Literacy/Numeracy Assessment Committee and the Special Learning Needs Assessment Committees are reviewed by the Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Advisory Committee and the Targeted Programmes Reference Panel before being considered for approval by the AIS Board.

Recommendations made by the Languages Assessment Committee are reviewed by the Languages Advisory Committee and the Targeted Programmes Reference Panel before being considered for approval by the AIS Board.

Recommendations from the Country Areas Programme Assessment Committee are subject to Australian Government ministerial approval.