2017
SECONDARY ASSISTANCE SCHEME
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Applications close 7 April 2017
GENERAL INFORMATION
Term 1, 2017 will not be accepted). Please ensure to
keep a photocopy of the signed form for school
records.
The
Western
Australian
Department
of
Education
provides an allowance to assist eligible families with
secondary schooling costs.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late applications will only be accepted in extenuating
Parents/guardians
must
apply
for
the
Secondary
Assistance Scheme each school year (annually) –
circumstances and must be accompanied with a
written explanation.
applications do not carry forward to future years.
To be eligible for the allowance the parent/guardian must
Eligible interstate or overseas students who are
enrolled after first term may apply for the allowance.
hold a Department of Human Services (Centrelink) or
Veterans’ Affairs card that represents a statement of
Date of enrolment must be noted on the application.
income for the family.
CONTRIBUTIONS AND CHARGES
The allowance consists of two components:
Schools
will
receive
the
Educational
Program
$115 Clothing Allowance paid directly to the
Allowance
of
$235
for
Secondary
Assistance
parent/guardian or the school.
recipients. For students in Years 7 to 10 the Allowance
$235
Educational
Program
Allowance
paid
will be paid directly to the school and in the first
directly to the school.
instance, will be applied towards the voluntary
contribution. Any balance will be applied against
Application is made by the parent or guardian for
charges or as negotiated with the parent/guardian. For
student/s enrolled in Years 7–12 studying a full time
students in Years 11 to 12 the Allowance will be
secondary course at a Western Australian public school.
applied to cover charges, in the first instance.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
CLOTHING ALLOWANCE
Parent or Guardian must hold one of the following cards:
The clothing allowance of $115 will be paid to the
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
parent/guardian unless indicated on the application
Health Care Card
form that you wish it to be paid to the school. If
payment to the parent/guardian is requested, the
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
payment will be deposited into the parent/guardian
Pensioner Concession Card
bank account. It can between take between 8 to 12
Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
weeks to receive this payment.
Please Note: The only Veterans’ Affairs Card that meets
PROCESSING OF PAYMENTS
the criteria is a blue card that is issued annually and
expires in December each year.
This card is income
Once the form is completed by the parent/guardian,
means tested.
the school will forward either the electronic file (via
email) to the Schools Resourcing and Support
The parent/guardian must be the holder of a card that is
Directorate for processing whilst retraining the original
valid some time during first term. The only exception to
form at the school or if completing applications
this is when a student holds their own health care card
manually, forward the original forms retaining a
and has been declared independent by Centrelink (e.g.
photocopy for the school records.
Living Away from Home).
In this instance, a letter of
confirmation from Centrelink needs to accompany the
If you change any of your details supplied on the
application.
application form, please notify us as soon as possible
on 9264 4516.
The allowance is paid up to and including the year the
We will endeavour to have all clothing payments made
student turns 18 years of age i.e. students born in 1998 or
to the parent/guardian by 31 May 2017.
before are ineligible in 2017.
FURTHER INFORMATION
APPLICATION FORMS
Schools Resourcing and Support Directorate
Department of Education
Application forms should not be altered and are to be
151 Royal Street
completed at the school during Term 1 only. If the form is
EAST PERTH WA 6004
completed prior to the commencement of Term 1 the
school must complete the enrolment confirmation section
Telephone: (08) 9264 4516
to confirm attendance. (Forms dated by the school prior to
E-mail:
student.allowances@education.wa.edu.au