The Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AISNSW) is the peak body representing independent schools across the state. It administers the Capital Grants Program (CGP) and Building Grants Assistance Scheme (BGAS), which help schools secure and manage federal and state infrastructure funding.
David Buley, Chief Financial Officer at AISNSW, oversees grant disbursement and compliance across capital works programs. In 2020, the team supported 32 projects with $22 million in grant funding.
To ensure these funds are used efficiently, AISNSW requires ongoing project visibility and transparent reporting from schools.
“We need to know the funding serves its purpose and value is maximised through best practice cost management. Mastt presents this clearly and shows each school’s true state to meet government requirements.”
David Buley, Chief Financial Officer of AISNSW
Lack of visibility puts projects and funding at risk. As more schools received grants, AISNSW struggled to see what was truly happening on the ground.
AISNSW and its schools relied on spreadsheets and an old web portal to track project status. The system lacked real-time data, forcing schools to submit updates manually. Delays and outdated numbers made it difficult to assess project health or approve the next tranche of funding.
Many schools were inexperienced in managing capital projects and appointed client side project managers. With each school’s project manager using its own siloed spreadsheet or method to track progress, there was no standard view of financial health or project delivery that could be received by AISNSW.
Without a single source of truth, AISNSW had to conduct independent audits. Schools needed to gather and submit manually. Critical information like committed costs, variations, or actuals could be weeks out of date, or missing entirely.
Without real-time visibility, AISNSW couldn’t confidently release the next tranche of funding or step in early to resolve issues.
AISNSW needed a cloud based construction project management system that offered a scalable, standardized solution for all funded schools. The system had to provide:
AISNSW selected Mastt to manage capital project data based on its proven success in schools like Scots College and Caulfield Grammar. Two schools piloted the rollout:
Each project team used Mastt to capture all project cost data in one place. With standard templates and one-click reports, AISNSW received consistent updates from every project with a single web based login.
During onboarding, Mastt also helped AISNSW guide schools in best-practice reporting and industry-grade cost management, presenting at AISNSW’s annual conference.
With Mastt, AISNSW gained the visibility and trust it needed to deploy funding. Instead of waiting on status reports or digging through outdated spreadsheets, the team could immediately access up-to-date project data across all funded schools.
Mastt stores all project information in one secure cloud platform. AISNSW can view every cost, variation, and forecast without waiting for an email or invoice.
“All we need to know is whether the funding is providing its intended purpose and that the value is being maximized through industry best practice cost management. Mastt is doing its job of presenting all that to us.”
- David Buley, CFO, AISNSW
Instead of waiting weeks for audits, AISNSW has a live dashboard that displays the cost performance of every project in real time. AISNSW could decide quickly when to release funds or intervene early.
For the schools and project manager’s themselves, clearer reporting expectations and a purpose-built system led to better project control and client relationships. The result was more confident decisions, smoother grant management, and capital works that stayed on track.
AISNSW has a responsibility to ensure public funds are spent wisely. With Mastt, they no longer rely on patchy spreadsheets or email chains. They gain:
See how Oakhill College reduced project risks with more data transparency in this case study.
AISNSW transformed how it managed over $22 million in school infrastructure grants. By moving away from disjointed spreadsheets and outdated tools, the organization gained real-time visibility, strengthened financial oversight, and built trust across all stakeholders.
With Mastt, every school project, no matter the size or complexity, became easier to track, understand, and support. AISNSW empowered schools and project teams to lead with confidence and ensured that funds reached the right places faster. Most importantly, they upheld their responsibility to deliver lasting educational infrastructure that benefited students across New South Wales.
This shift wasn’t just about software, it was about clarity, accountability, and setting a new benchmark for capital works reporting in the education sector.
“It is easy for us to see the true state of each school to ensure we are meeting our government requirements.”
- David Buley, CFO, AISNSW
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