The Department of Commerce can assist schools with their school projects in a number of ways. This can be from helping plan their project to assisting with contractual matters, to tendering and project supervision.

Commerce has many years experience in working with schools. This experience ranges from planning school facilities with the assistance of the Education Facilities Research Group (EFRG) through to constructing new facilities or assisting with upgrading or refocussing facilities.

Education Facilities Research Group 

EFRG is a joint initiative between the Department of Commerce and the Department of Education and Training. Its charter is to research and develop school facilities that support changing trends in education.

EFRG understands the educational facility needs to satisfy current and future trends in curriculum and pedagogy. We can advise schools on options to meet their needs, the performance and functional requirements of spaces and their inter-relationships.

EFRG maintains the Schools Facilities Standards that incorporate Australian Standards and Government or DET policies that school facilities are to comply with.

EFRG has researched and evaluated the construction and finishes of educational facilities to achieve the most environmentally sound, durable, safe and cost effective options for use in schools.