Financial Support
Parent Payments Policy
Financial Support
Scholarships
Parent Payments Policy
Rationale
Ballarat High School is committed to providing the best possible educational opportunities for all students.
Parent Contributions assist the School to provide an enriched learning and teaching program for every student and maintain its high standards of education in quality facilities. Parent contributions supplement Government grants and are crucial to our budget.
The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 provides for instruction in the standard curriculum program to be free to all students in government schools. School Councils are responsible for developing and approving school-level parent payment charges and can request payments from parents only under the following three categories:
- Curriculum Contributions
- Extra-Curricular Items and Activities
- Other Contributions.
Aims
- To provide students of Ballarat High School a high standard of education, access to quality facilities and specialised programs.
- To allow School Council to establish a structure for School charges.
- To ensure compliance with the Education and Training reform Act 2006, DET policy and guideline documents. The DET Parent Payments Policy is available from this link
Implementation
- School Council will, each year, determine the applicable amounts that parents of students attending Ballarat High School are requested to contribute.
- The School will comply with the DET policy and guidelines for Parent Payments, and undertake the implementation and administration of this Policy in line with the guidelines.
In particular Ballarat High School will
- Ensure all students will be treated equally and have access to the standard curriculum free of charge,
- Ensure parent payments are set at levels not exceeding the cost of the materials and/or services being provided,
- Parent payments will only be set under the categories of Curriculum Contributions, Extra-Curricular Items and Activities, and Other Contributions,
- Parents will be provided with notice of requested payments in November of the preceding school year,
- A range of payment options will be freely available and flexible arrangements may be requested in special circumstances,
- All parents, but in particular those experiencing financial hardship, are encouraged to make use of the available government/community assistance options, second-hand sales opportunities, scholarships offered and/or make special arrangements with the school,
- CASES 21 Finance package will be utilised at all times to accurately record all transactions, and provide reports/statements etc.,
- Parent/carer/student details will remain confidential and only used for legitimate purposes within the School,
- Communication with parents will primarily be via the following methods:
- School Website (this page)
- Parent Contributions brochure and detailed listing (PDF downloads via links below)
- Parent Newsletters (published each fortnight)
- Family Statements (provided to all families at least 3 times per year)
- Compass Parent Portal
Financial Assistance Schemes
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2025. Applications close 4pm, Friday June 27th 2025.
The Victorian Government is offering the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) in 2025.
Eligible families will receive $256 (currently subject to confirmation) per student, paid into their family account at Ballarat High School each year.
Parents/students holding a means-tested concession card valid on Tuesday 28th January 2025 or Tuesday 22nd April 2025, may be eligible. Foster parents and Veterans Affairs Gold Card holders may also be eligible.
Please note that payments do not cease at age 16, but continue whilst the student is attending secondary school
Completed forms, with a copy of your Centrelink Card, should be submitted to the Ballarat High School General Office each year.
The CSEF Application and Request Forms are available by clicking the link below. This form is now an editable PDF which can be completed online and emailed to ballarat.hs@education.vic.gov.au, or printed and returned to the General Office.
State Schools’ Relief (SSR) Year 7 Uniform Pack 2024. Applications close on Friday March 28th 2025
Students who are eligible for Camps, Sports and Excursion Funding in 2024 and are entering Year 7 in 2025 may qualify for the State Schools Relief Year 7 Uniform Package.
State Government funding has been provided to State Schools’ Relief to support parents in providing basic uniform garments and school shoes for eligible Year 7 students.
In summary;
- students commencing Year 7 in 2025 and have applied for CSEF in 2024 or become eligible for CSEF in 2025.
- parents must apply through Ballarat High School, not primary school
- a uniform voucher and a pair of school shoes, are offered
- applications and funds will be administered by State Schools’ Relief
- vouchers will be emailed to families for redemption at our retail supplier PSW
- eligibility is the same as the CSEF
The Application Form, Shoe Sizing Chart and Fact Sheet are available by clicking the links below. The application form is now an editable PDF which can be completed online and then emailed to ballarat.hs@education.vic.gov.au, or printed and returned to the General Office along with a copy of your concession card.
Conveyance Allowance
Parents may be eligible to claim Conveyance Allowance to assist with travel costs, if they are attending their nearest government secondary school and live 4.8kms or more from that school, via the shortest practicable route. Some special circumstances and exceptions apply.
The shortest practicable route should be determined with reference to Google Maps or Bing Maps. Please use 1726 Sturt Street, Lake Gardens, 3355 as the Ballarat High School address.
All parents wishing to claim the Conveyance Allowance in 2025 must complete a new 2025 Conveyance Allowance Form and return it to the General Office with a copy of ticket or receipt.
Eligible applicants will be reimbursed by EFT in June and December 2025.
Under the Guidelines all schools may be subject to an audit of Conveyance Allowances.
Ballarat High School has registered as a participating school with PTV, which allows students with a BHS ID Card (PTV logo on the back) to no longer need a separate PTV Student ID Card. Students will be required to carry the BHS ID Card as proof of entitlement to concession fares or to purchase a Student Pass.
As a reminder, it is highly recommended that all MYKI cards be registered to protect your funds balance, should the card be lost or stolen.
Please use the below links. The Conveyance application form is now an editable PDF which can be completed online and emailed to ballarat.hs@education.vic.gov.au, or printed and returned to the General Office.
2025 Conveyance Allowance Application Form BHS
2024 PTV Student Pass Application – No Approved School Issued ID
Family Tax Benefits A and B
This is a two-part payment to help with the cost of raising children. Eligibility details are available from the Department of Human Services.
Saver Plus
Saver Plus is a matched savings and financial education program that can assist low income families.
Saver Plus provides an opportunity to have every dollar saved (up to $500) matched with an additional dollar for the family’s education-related expenses. Saver Plus is an initiative of Brotherhood of St Laurence and ANZ Bank, delivered in Ballarat by Ballarat Group Training.
The program is funded by ANZ Bank and the Australian Government. Please contact Sue at BGT on (03) 5333 1707 for further details.
Please click on the below link for further information:
Centrepay
Centrepay is a free, voluntary service for Centrelink customers to pay expenses via regular deductions from their Centrelink payments. Deductions can be started, changed or cancelled at any time to suit the family’s circumstances.
Scholarships
Hilton White Estate
We are fortunate to receive funds from the Hilton White Estate trustees to provide scholarships to our students.
Successful incoming Year 7 students will receive $1000, current Year 7 – 12 students will receive $500. Successful students will have the funds placed in their school account to cover school costs.
The selection criteria for these scholarships are:
Students who
- Model the school values of Pride, Respect, Responsibility
- Have excellent attendance and a commitment to learning
- Display a positive approach to studies, including an idea of what career they may want into the future
- Participate in a variety of school activities
- Are a good community citizen
- Primary family is able to provide evidence of financial hardship and is fully/partially financially responsible for educational expenses.
Students may apply by completing the Student Application and Nomination Form and returning the form to the General Office.
If a student has received a Hilton White Scholarship in the past, they need to wait 2 years before reapplying.