Schools are highly sensitive to the financial circumstances of children’s families and can give advice on the assistance that is available, the eligibility criteria that apply and how the payment of fees and charges can be negotiated.
A ‘levy’ is a financial charge paid by parents or carers to help to cover the cost of resources used by a child during the school year – for example, art materials, stationery, photocopying, and general classroom learning resources. Means-tested financial assistance can be provided to families on low incomes.
You need to complete an application for government financial assistance through the student assistance scheme (STAS). The school will be able to give you an application form.
Government schools in Tasmania develop a uniform policy in consultation with their community. This generally means that children and young people will be expected to wear a version of the school uniform. Wearing a uniform connects the child with the school and helps all children feel ‘equal’ with their schoolmates. Most schools have a clothing pool from which you can buy school hats and good quality second-hand items.
During their schooling children are likely to be involved in excursions, cultural performances, school camps and sporting activities. Schools are expected to include any anticipated expenses related to children’s learning in their annual statements of fees and levies. They try to keep such expenses to a minimum and to give advance notice well before these need to be paid. You should talk to the school Principal if you have queries or concerns about costs associated with schooling. The child may be able to catch a free school bus or use the public bus system.
Contact the child’s school to find out about the bus system servicing the area. Metro Tasmania provides timetables and service information for public bus services in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie.
For information about public bus services phone 13 22 01 or visit the Metro website.
Passenger Transport Services administer bus passes and conveyance allowances for students.
The Student Bus Pass allows a student to travel free on fare-charging bus services between home and school. To be eligible for a bus pass students must attend full-time classes at a government school and meet concession requirements.
The Transfer Bus Pass allows students to travel on two or more fare-charging buses between home and school for the payment of one fare each way.
For information about these passes phone Passenger Transport Services on (03) 6233 4953 or visit http://www.transport.tas.gov.au.
You can apply for both passes on the Internet at that address, or you can apply in person at your local Service Tasmania office. Conveyance Allowance is paid to help with the cost of transporting students between home and school or to the nearest bus stop (whichever is the closer) by private car where a bus service is not available.
The Conveyance Allowance is not income tested.
For information about the Conveyance Allowance phone Passenger Transport Services on (03) 6233 5265 or visit http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/.
Other allowances that may be relevant to grandparents raising grandchildren include:
The Minister for Education, David Bartlett, recently announced in the 2007-08 State Budget that $20,000 will be provided annually so that grandparents can access the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS).
The extension of STAS to cover the needs of grandparents recognises the important role that many grandparents play in caring for our students. As a result of this announcement grandparents will also have access to the Spectacles Assistance Scheme.
To be eligible for financial assistance, grandparents will be required to show evidence of a formal relationship with the student.
For further information please call 1800 816 057.
This page has been produced by the Department of Education
Questions concerning its content may be directed by email to ServiceCentre@education.tas.gov.au or telephone 1800 816 057.
This page was last modified on 15th October 2008. The URL for this page is: http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/parents/grandparents/education/costs.
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