Primary school children checklist

Check if you can get a Centrelink payment to help with the cost of raising your child. You may get:

Family Tax Benefit if you earn under the income limit
Parenting Payment if you’re a young child’s main carer
Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme if your child can't go to a local school because of geographical isolation, disability or special needs.

If your child has disability or a medical condition, you may be eligible for government support for carers.

You can find payments for foster carers and non-parents carers, and grandparents carers on the Services Australia website.

How to claim

You can claim a payment in your Centrelink online account through myGov.

Find out about payments you may get from your state or territory government if you’re raising kids.

ACT – Support for parents in ACT
NSW – Primary school vouchers NSW
NT – Student financial help and scholarships NT and Sport voucher NT
Qld – Play On! vouchers Qld and Living Away From Home Allowances Scheme Qld
SA – Sports Vouchers SA and School Card Scheme SA
Tas – Help for school costs Tas
Vic – Financial help for families Vic
WA – Financial support for school students in WA and KidSport WA

There are organisations that can help with your child’s school costs through matched savings programs and no interest loans.

Find out about:

Saver Plus, which is a matched savings program, on the Brotherhood of St Laurence website
No Interest Loans, which can help with school fees or uniforms, on the Good Shepherd website.

You can also find tips for reducing back to school costs on the Moneysmart website.

Go to your state or territory government website to find out about enrolling in a public primary school.

ACT – Enrol in a public school in ACT
NSW – Guide to starting primary school in NSW and Enrolment NSW
NT – Age your child attends school in NT and Enrol your child NT
Qld – Enrolment Qld
SA – Primary school enrolment SA
Tas – Enrolling your child Tas
Vic – Starting school Vic
WA – Starting school WA

You can use the My School website to get information about schools, such as number of students and academic outcomes.

You may need care for your child before or after school, or in the school holidays. Outside school hours care can help.

Find a provider on the Starting Blocks website.

Check if you can get a payment to help with the cost of outside school hours care:

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can apply for the subsidies online.

Your child may get free or low cost travel on public transport to and from school. Find out what’s available on your state or territory website.

If you're concerned about your child's development or if they have disability, you can seek help through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

NDIS partners can work with you and connect you to supports and services. They can also help you apply to the NDIS.

If your child is younger than 9, find out how to get help through the early childhood approach on the NDIS website.

If your child is over 9, find out about help for people with disability aged 9 and over on the NDIS website.

How to get a hearing assessment

Your GP can refer you for a hearing test or to access government funded hearing services.

Find out what government funded hearing services are in your state or territory on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.

When to seek help through the NDIS

If your child has been diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, you may get help from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Find out how to ask for funding for hearing supports on the NDIS website.

Medicare can help with the cost of seeing a doctor or specialist and getting tests and scans.

You may be able to claim money back from Medicare at your doctor’s or use your Medicare online account through myGov.

Find out more about Medicare .

If you spend over a certain amount on medical costs in a calendar year, you may get more money back from Medicare Safety Nets.

You can register as a family to combine your medical costs.

How to check if you’re in a Medicare Safety Net family

You can check if you’re already in a Medicare Safety Net family in your Medicare online account through myGov.

How to register your family

You can find the form to register your family for Medicare Safety Nets on the Services Australia website.

You can also use this form to update your Medicare Safety Net family.

Find out more about Medicare Safety Nets on the Services Australia website.

You can get help for your child’s mental health through school counsellors, your GP or a psychologist.

If your child is 5 years or older, they can call the Kids Helpline to talk to a counsellor.

Find out about mental health for children and pre-teens on the Raising Children website.

Mental health services in your state or territory

You can also get help for your child through community organisations in your state or territory.

Find out if you can access low cost public dental services on your state or territory website.

If you get some Centrelink payments, you may get help to pay for basic dental services through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

If your child is eligible, Services Australia will send you a letter.

Find out more about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule on the Services Australia website.

Check your Child Dental Benefits Schedule balance

If your Medicare online account is linked to myGov, you can check your Child Dental Benefits Schedule balance online.

Once you’ve signed in, select History and statements and then Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

Claim dental services through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule

You can claim the benefit for your child’s dental services at the dentist when you pay.

If your dentist can’t claim on your behalf, you can claim in your Medicare online account through myGov.

Primary school children checklist

Payments

How to claim

School

Your child's health and development