The School Card scheme offers financial assistance with educational expenses for students attending government and non-government schools.
On this page:
EligibilityIncome limitsWhat is included as income?Eligibility
School Card is available to eligible:
- families with children aged four years and over who attend a school full-time
- independent full time years 10 or 11 students who are studying six subjects
- independent full time years year 12 students who are studying five subjects
- adult re-entry students undertaking DECD funded subjects at a government school.
Income limits
Income limits for applications lodged in 2013 - based on the family’s gross income in 2011/2012.
| Number of dependant children | Gross annual income limit | Gross weekly income limit |
|---|
| 1 child | $34,747 | $669
|
| 2 children | $35,695 | $688
|
| 3 children | $36,642 | $707 |
| 4 children | $37,589 | $726
|
| 5 children | $38,537 | $745 |
| More than five children | Add $948 for each child | Add $19 for each
child |
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What is included as income?
Income that's included as part of gross family income when establishing eligibility for the School Card includes:
- gross salaries, wages and allowances from an employer/s
- taxable Centrelink pensions, benefits and allowances
- non-taxable or tax-exempt pensions, benefits and allowances - eg Disability Support Pension
- gross interest and dividends
- benefits from the Department of Veterans' Affairs
- supplementary income identified in the supplementary tax return
- fringe benefits - eg provision of a car, entertainment expenses
- foreign income, including pensions and employment
- self-employment - income from a business or partnership.
Gross family income does not include any amounts received for:
- family tax benefits parts A and B
- child maintenance payments
- totally and permanently incapacitated (TPI) component of veteran’s affairs benefits
- carer allowance.
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More information
On this site
School Card scheme
Financial help, scholarships and grants
Other websites
School card information for schools 
- Education Department
Contact
School Card section on 1800 672 758 (freecall)