Safe Tree Program (Australia)

Deadline: 30-Jun-23

The Safe Tree Program is now open to help schools manage high-risk trees on their grounds.

The Safe Tree Program (the program) is available to schools to apply for one-off assistance and advice in assessing, managing and, if required, removing high-risk trees where schools do not otherwise have the financial capacity to do so. Additionally, the program can assist schools in implementing the recommendations provided by a qualified arborist, when work is funded by the school.

Schools are required to manage trees on school sites as part of schools’ Occupational, Health & Safety responsibilities. Schools must engage an arborist to undertake an annual tree integrity audit inspection, following advice from OHS Risk Management Policy and Contractor OHS Management Policy.

Eligibility Criteria

The program is application-based and open to all government schools.
Financial assistance under this program is available when school funds (including SRP funding) are not sufficient:
- to engage a qualified arborist to assess the health of all existing trees on site
- to address the recommendations for tree works provided by a qualified arborist.
Under the program, schools may also seek advice and assistance from the VSBA in implementing the recommendations provided by a qualified arborist when work is funded by the school.
Note: If a school requires financial assistance to engage a qualified arborist to undertake an arborist report, they must obtain approval from the VSBA prior to engagement.
There is no limit on the number of trees eligible for Safe Tree Program funding – the intent of the program is to prioritise the removal and/or pruning of all identified high-risk trees from school sites.
Schools should not apply for assistance through the Safe Tree Program for:
- vegetation and grass removal or management
- tree sanctuaries or plantations as defined in the Plantations Policy.