Latest news with #ServiceWA
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Stephen Dawson urges Kimberley families to grab student assistance payment before deadline
Kimberley parents are being encouraged to cash in on the WA Student Assistance Payment by Minister for the Kimberley Stephen Dawson. The payment offers $150 per child in kindy or primary school and $250 per high school student, in a bid to help pay for school essentials, from uniforms and school shoes to laptops. 'The Cook Government is committed to supporting regional families with the cost of living, and this payment is one way we're delivering on that commitment,' Mr Dawson said. Families have until Friday, July 4 to make their claim, and are told the easiest way to do it is through the ServiceWA app. For those who need a hand with the digital side of things, there's also in-person help available at libraries across the Kimberley including a Digital Assist Kiosk at Broome Library. Education Department staff are also hitting the road to help families and schools navigate the process. 'We encourage families to claim their payment as soon as possible to help with education expenses,' Mr Dawson said. 'The ServiceWA app is the most efficient and secure way to make a claim for WASAP, but families can also claim through our alternate methods using the web or paper form.' To find out more or to get support, visit
The Age
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
How the government is pushing WA families to claim their free money
More than 174,000 claims have been submitted for Western Australia's student assistance payment in the scheme's first fortnight. Government figures provided to WAtoday reveal the state is on track to surpass the 400,000 claims made during last year's scheme. The government is under pressure to improve the uptake of the payment after it was revealed regional and remote families were far less likely to take up the free money compared to metropolitan families during the last round. With only 80 per cent of eligible families taking up the offer last round, the government is pulling out all the stops to improve uptake. The payment is being advertised through regional community resource centres, and advertising material was being translated into 16 languages to penetrate communities where English is a second language. The Department of Communities has also been tasked to share information about the payments with foster carers and families. Schools where uptake was low last year are getting targeted support while some of these communities are also being given internet dongles to help families access the online service. The payments on offer are $150 for each kindergarten or primary school child and $250 per child in highschool, all accessible through the government's Service WA app. The deadline for this $89 million round of payments ends on July 4.
West Australian
27-04-2025
- Business
- West Australian
How to apply for Student Assistance Payments of up to $250 for parents of WA school-aged children
Western Australian families will be able to apply for up $250 cash from Monday, under the latest round of the State Government's Student Assistance Payment. Under the program, parents can apply for $150 for each primary school aged student, and $250 for each secondary pupil in their family from Monday. Education Minister Sabine Winton said the payment was designed to cover school costs which quickly add up. 'With families facing cost-of-living pressures as a result of global inflation, the Cook Government is committed to providing relief where we can,' she said. 'We want as many families as possible to claim, and I'm pleased that particular focus is being placed this year on supporting regional communities to claim the payment. 'By supporting WA families through this significant cost-of-living measure, we're ensuring students have what they need to thrive at school.' The program follows last year's payment, which was claimed by four in five WA families to a value of more than $75 million. But the roll-out of that program was criticised by the Opposition, for not providing live claim rates for school to all MPs and media to promote take up rates. To claim the payment, parents can lodge an application on Service WA using their child's WA student number. Payments are made directly into bank accounts. Applications remain open until July 4, the end of term two.
Perth Now
27-04-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
How WA parents can claim up to $250 for school-age kids
Western Australian families will be able to apply for up $250 cash from Monday, under the latest round of the State Government's Student Assistance Payment. Under the program, parents can apply for $150 for each primary school aged student, and $250 for each secondary pupil in their family from Monday. Education Minister Sabine Winton said the payment was designed to cover school costs which quickly add up. 'With families facing cost-of-living pressures as a result of global inflation, the Cook Government is committed to providing relief where we can,' she said. Sabine Winton. Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian 'We want as many families as possible to claim, and I'm pleased that particular focus is being placed this year on supporting regional communities to claim the payment. 'By supporting WA families through this significant cost-of-living measure, we're ensuring students have what they need to thrive at school.' The program follows last year's payment, which was claimed by four in five WA families to a value of more than $75 million. But the roll-out of that program was criticised by the Opposition, for not providing live claim rates for school to all MPs and media to promote take up rates. To claim the payment, parents can lodge an application on Service WA using their child's WA student number. Payments are made directly into bank accounts. Applications remain open until July 4, the end of term two.
