Financial support

School Card scheme

The School Card scheme offers financial assistance with educational expenses for students attending government schools including:

For students at non-government schools, parents are encouraged to speak directly to the school about financial assistance.

Eligibility

School Card is available to:

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 year 12 students who are studying five subjects
adult re-entry students undertaking DECD funded subjects at a government school.

This form is suitable for most low-income students and families. Use this form if:

your combined gross income is within the income limit
your combined gross income is generated solely from a salary or Centrelink benefits
neither parent is self-employed
the child was born after 1 July 1997.

This form is for people who:

have a gross income above the School Card income limit but have experienced hardship due to extraordinary or unavoidable expenses - eg medical or funeral costs
experienced a significant change of financial circumstances from the 1 July last year to until end of February this year - eg unemployment
are self-employed and the family gross income is within the income limit.

These forms are for:

foster (informal and formal care agreement) applicants who are the guardians of one or more students
grandparents who are the guardians of their grandchildren.

This form is for:

Newly arrived migrant may need to contact the School Card Section on 1800 672 758 to discuss their visa class.

This form is for adult re-entry students:

Form V: Veterans

Complete this form if you or your partner:

This form is for students who at the end of February this year:

are living away from their parents
have a total gross income within the income limit
are receiving the Independent Youth Allowance or Independent Disability Support Pension.

For applicants to request their application be re-assessed after receiving a No for School Card assistance for the 2017 school year.

Income limits for applications lodged in 2017 - based on the family's gross income in 2015/2016.

Number of dependent children	Gross annual income limit	Gross weekly income limit
1 child	$37,274	$717
2 children	$38,291	$737
3 children	$39,308	$757
4 children	$40,325	$777
5 children	$41,342	$797
More than five children	Add $1,017 for each child	Add $20 for each child