School Start Bonus (SSB) and Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

School responsibilities

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development requires registered government and non government schools to carry out administrative tasks in relation to the payment of allowances and bonuses to the families of students.  These payments are intended to help eligible families with the cost of education.

School Start Bonus (SSB)

SSB is a non-means tested payment to parents of all children entering Prep and Year 7.  Parents receive a voucher for $300 which can be redeemed at Australia Post offices.

The administration of SSB is an ongoing process with the majority of processing occurring during term four of each year.  Schools are required to enter enrolment information and to print and distribute the $300 vouchers to parents.  Parents will be able to redeem them at Australia Post offices.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMA is means tested and payable to low income families of students up to the age of 16. In 2008, the amount of  $215 is paid for primary students or $430 for secondary school students

EMA payment is divided between the family and the school, where the school must allocate the payment to the child’s essential educational items, e.g. textbooks, school uniform, camps, etc. The school is accountable for the portion spent on the student’s behalf.

Schools have the responsibility for communicating EMA availability to parents, as well as receiving and processing the EMA application forms each year.

School administration

Schools are required to take into account critical cut off dates for the submission of data to the department, the upkeep of data as well as answering parent enquiries.

Should you become a registered school, you will require:

 

Further information

Further information and advice regarding the school's responsibilities can be found at the following pages of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website.

 

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