Our Teaching Initiatives Program (TIP) is the result of a former Bank First director who saw the struggle for funding in our schools, for teachers wanting to go that little bit extra for their students. 

It all began in 1993 with grants to three schools – Ormond East Primary School, Hamilton Primary School and South Yarra Primary School.  

Last year, in 2024, we funded 18 schools, who shared in a $30,000 funding pool. Projects ranged from equipment for school community kitchens, the development of a bush tucker garden and a program of recycling plastics to be used in a 3D printing STEM project. 

We're inviting all teachers, at Victorian schools who have a project idea but little, or no funding, to implement that project to consider applying for a 2025 TIP grant.

And in a first for us, we're extending the program to teachers who aren't Bank First Members – although of course, we know that once you learn about our organisation, we're confident you'll want to join the bank which was started by teachers! 

For our Bank First Members who are teachers – you can now apply for grants up to $4000 in value. That's double what has been available in previous years. 

So, dust off those project plans and ideas and make sure you apply for TIP funding to get your project into the classroom. 

Teaching Initiatives Program (TIP) officially opened for 2025 on Monday 24 March.  Apply now.