You must hold at least one of the following concession cards:
Education maintenance allowance
The education maintenance allowance assists low income parents or guardians with the costs of schooling. The allowance is paid in two installments each year with 70% paid in Term 1 and 30% paid in Term 3. The allowance is divided equally between the parents and the school. 2009 rates for the allowance are $221 for primary students and $443 for secondary students up to their 16th birthday. The allowance is increased each year in line with inflation.
Eligibility
How to apply
Contact your school office for further details and an application form or visit www.education.vic.gov.au.
More information
Frequently asked questions
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I am a foster parent, can I apply?
Foster parents can apply for the foster child only. Temporary caregivers through the Department of Human Services are considered to be foster parents.
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Do I have to apply for the Education Maintenance Allowance each year?
Yes. You must apply for the Education Maintenance Allowance at the beginning of each year or at the beginning of Term 3 if your child changes school.
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Are you eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance based on your child's Health Care Card?
No. Your child's Health Care Card is not linked to your financial status, which means it is not valid for the purposes of applying for the EMA.
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What information do I need to give the school to make sure my payment goes directly into my bank account?
When filling in the 2009 EMA application form, if you want to receive your payment via EFT you need to tick the “Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)” option and fill in your BSB* and bank account details.
You will also need to fill in your bank and branch name for verification purposes. This information will allow for your payment to go directly into your nominated bank account.
*A BSB (or Bank-State-Branch) number is a code used to identify individual financial institutions. It is usually a 6 digit number and it appears on your bank statement. If you are unsure please contact your bank.
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If I have a current Health Care Card does that automatically mean that I'm eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance?
No, in addition to holding a valid Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card, you must also be receiving a valid benefit from Centrelink on 28 January 2009 for instalment one and 13 July 2009 for instalment two.