Student Assistance Scheme Changes

Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 20 August 2020

Reducing the cost of public education for low income families

Thousands of Tasmanian families will benefit from the expansion of the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS), which waives the cost of Tasmanian Government levies for eligible students, for the 2021 school year onwards.

The expansion will see upwards of 9,000 additional students become eligible for STAS, which means that around one in two students will no longer pay school levies.

The eligibility for STAS will move to using the Health Care Card or equivalent as the assessment mechanism, replacing previous income thresholds that applied.

This will make a significant difference to families, for example, for a family with three school age students this could provide a saving of over $1,000 per year.

Our Government is committed to supporting families following the impacts of COVID-19, and we know that implementing this change will benefit thousands of Tasmanians who need it most.

This announcement follows the 2020 levy waiver which provided $14 million in relief to families, and the announcement in June this year that all Tasmanian Government School debts for 2019 and prior totalling $2.8 million would also be waived.

Combined, as part of the Tasmanian Government’s unprecedented social and economic package, more than $17 million in school levies and related charges have now either been reimbursed or waived.

For more information on levies and charges, please visit: https://www.education.tas.gov.au/parents-carers/parent-fact-sheets/fees-levies/

Media release – Helen Richardson, President, Australian Education Union Tasmanian Branch, 20 August 2020

The AEU Tasmanian Branch welcomes the removal of school levies for more low income families along with assurances that no school will be disadvantaged.

Our amazing public schools are the best option for all families and with no school disadvantaged from this measure they will continue to provide quality education for all.

Having removed barriers to students attending their local public school, we need to ensure that we have the resources to provide each and every one of them with the best possible education.

Media release – TasCOSS, 20 August 2020

Broadening of STAS eligibility welcomed

TasCOSS welcomes the State Government’s announcement that more Tasmanian families will be eligible for the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) from the 2021 school year.

TasCOSS CEO Ms Adrienne Picone said reducing education fees on an ongoing basis will make a real difference and will mean that Tasmanian families have more money to spend on other essentials and in their local community.

“Even before COVID-19, thousands of Tasmanian families were struggling to cover the basics and put healthy, nutritious food on the table,” Ms Picone said.

“Investing in education is one way we can help to drive positive outcomes for our children.

“As we chart the uncertain path ahead, now is the time to keep investing in the wellbeing of Tasmanians, particularly our students and young people, by opening up access to education, employment and training pathways.”

Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Minister for Education, 20 August 2020

Student levy relief welcome

Shadow Minister for Education Josh Willie said while today’s announcement of an expansion to the Student Assistance Scheme (STAS) scheme is welcome, prior to the pandemic there had been six years of government inaction to reduce financial barriers to education.

“In February, we called on the government to release its review of levies and other charges in Tasmanian state schools, as parents were in the dark about what the true cost of their children’s education would be.

“The State Schools Association backed that call and argued the threshold for levy relief needed to be higher, in line with the Commonwealth Healthcare Card.

“The Minister for Education has never released the review publicly. Today, more than six months on, he announced a change in the eligibility criteria for the STAS to align with the Healthcare Card, but what else has been recommended in the review?

“Tasmanian students already face significant financial barriers to education with additional costs such as uniforms and technology – which is demonstrated by poor educational outcomes compared to other states.

“Why has it taken six years and a global pandemic for the government to finally act and begin to remove these barriers?

“The government needs to release the review into levies and other charges in Tasmanian state schools, and come clean about the implementation of its recommendations.

“More needs to be done to ensure families don’t feel financial pressures when sending their children to school, to give them the best start in life.”