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Payments if you’re raising a child

Centrelink payments for families, child care, grandparents and foster carers, and help from your state or territory.

You may be able to get a Centrelink payment to help with the cost of raising your child. You may get:

State or territory payments for school aged children

If your child is at primary or high school, find out about financial help on your state or territory government website.

State or territory Resource
ACT Get help with the cost of schooling in ACT
NSW Financial support for students in NSW
NT Student financial help and scholarships in NT
Sport voucher for students in NT
Qld Qld Play On! vouchers
Help with school costs in Qld
SA Financial help, scholarships and grants in SA
SA Sports Vouchers Plus
Tas Help for school costs in Tas
Vic Costs, fees and funding in Vic
WA Financial support for school students in WA
WA KidSport

Other payments for families

If your child is in child care or outside school hours care, check if you can get Child Care Subsidy.

You can find out about Additional Child Care Subsidy on the Services Australia website. To get this, you must be eligible for Child Care Subsidy and one of the following:

  • a grandparent getting an income support payment and caring for your grandchild
  • transitioning from certain income support payments to work
  • experiencing temporary financial hardship
  • caring for a child who is vulnerable or at risk of harm, abuse or neglect.

There may be payments or concessions for school transport. Find out what’s available to help get your child to and from school.

If your child has disability or a medical condition and you’re their carer, find out if you’re eligible for government support for carers.

If you’re a foster carer, grandparent or non-parent carer, you may get Centrelink support.

Find out about support for foster carers and other non-parent carers on the Services Australia website.

Find out about ABSTUDY on the Services Australia website. Depending on a student’s circumstances, it can help with:

  • school fees
  • boarding fees
  • living costs
  • travel costs
  • buying school materials.

Living in a rural or remote area

You may get a payment if your child can’t go to an appropriate state school because you live in a rural or remote area. Find out about the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme on the Services Australia website.

Your child may get their own payment when they’re in high school. Find out about payments for teenagers on our preparing for adult life checklist.

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Page last updated: 5 November 2026