Are you eligible for school subsidies?

With the kids heading back to school, get up to speed with the government subsidies you may be able to claim in 2022.

With the new year now in motion, many parents and carers are probably looking at how they’ll cover school fees for the year ahead, not to mention other costs, including uniforms, textbooks, electronic devices, as well as future excursions.

The good news is you may be eligible for some financial assistance through subsidies in your state or territory. Note, these may be means tested or require you to hold a concession card.

State and territory allowances

Before we get into what you could claim, you might be interested in the total estimated cost of education for a child starting school in Australia over a projected 13-year period¹.

Now, let’s get you across some of the rebates and tax breaks you as a parent or guardian may be eligible for.

New South Wales

Children enrolled in primary or high school, who are aged between four and a half and 18 (including those who are home-schooled or completing secondary school education at TAFE NSW), are eligible for two $100 Active Kids Vouchers each calendar year. The vouchers can be used for sport and recreation costs by parents, guardians and carers.

A $100 Creative Kids voucher can also be applied for each year to help with the cost of creative classes and activities, such as music, dance and drama lessons, language classes, coding and design.

On top of that, if you drive the kids to school because there’s no public transport where you live, you may be eligible for the School Drive Subsidy.

There are also two financial support programs for eligible families who have children boarding away from home to complete their secondary education. See info on the Living Away from Home Allowance for Secondary Students, as well as Boarding Scholarships for Isolated Students.

Queensland

If you have secondary-school-age students who are attending state and approved non-state schools, you may be able to receive financial assistance to help with the cost of textbooks and other learning resources. For more details, read about Queensland’s textbook and resource allowance.

Parents, carers or guardians may also apply for a FairPlay voucher valued at up to $150 for their child, which can be used for sport and recreation membership, registration or participation fees with registered activity providers.

The Living Away from Home Allowances Scheme is also available, while talented students from regional and remote areas, who aren’t eligible, may apply for the Queensland Academies Isolated Students Bursary Scheme.

Victoria

Depending on your situation, your family may be eligible to receive free or discounted uniforms, shoes, textbooks, stationery and more through the State Schools' Relief.

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund may also provide payments so that eligible students can take part in school trips and various sporting activities.

South Australia

The School Card scheme assists with expenses, such as school fees, uniforms, camps and excursions. This is available for eligible students attending government schools.

The State Education Allowance is also available to geographically isolated parents with children at secondary level, who board away from home. The allowance assists with travel, boarding and other education-related expenses.

Western Australia

The Secondary Assistance Scheme is available to parents who hold eligible concession cards. It provides an education program allowance, which is paid to the school, and a clothing allowance that can be paid to the school or parent.

A Boarding Away from Home Allowance also assists geographically isolated families with boarding and education costs for primary and secondary-school-age children.

Tasmania

The Student Assistance Scheme assists with the cost of school levies. It provides support to low-income families to help with the cost of students in kindergarten through to year 12.

Northern Territory

The Back to School Payment Scheme provides $150 of educational goods and services for each child enrolled in a government or non-government school or preschool, and includes those who are registered for home-schooling.

There’s also a Sport Voucher Scheme that assists with sport, recreation and cultural-activity costs.

For further information on financial help, including whether you’re eligible for assistance if your child has to live away from home or travel long distances to go to school, check out info on the Northern Territory government website.

Australian Capital Territory

The Secondary Bursary Scheme and Student Support Fund programs provide assistance to eligible low-income earners in the ACT with dependent full-time students in years seven to 10.

Commonwealth Government assistance

Australian Government assistance may also be available through avenues such as Youth Allowance, the Family Tax Benefit, ABSTUDY and the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme. For more information, visit the Services Australia page – Payments you can get.

You may also want to check out an initiative co-funded by the Australian Government, which is called Saver Plus. It’s a program delivered in a number of communities across the country, which delivers up to $500 in matched savings for education costs and provides free financial education workshops and support.

Other considerations

Raising kids doesn’t come cheap, so it’s worthwhile making the most of the subsidies available to you, including those that may be available before school starts, such as the Child Care Subsidy and Child Care Safety Net.

In the meantime, if you need help, speak to your school about what financial support is available and talk to other parents who have children at the same school or schools nearby.

^{1 Futurity Investment Group – What is the real cost of your child’s future (Planning for Education Index 2021)}