Primary school children checklist
Payments
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.
If you haven’t linked Centrelink to your myGov account, find out how to link Centrelink.
Find out about payments you may get from your state or territory government if you’re raising kids.
- ACT – Support for parents
- NSW – Primary school vouchers
- NT – Student financial help and scholarships and Sport voucher
- Qld – Play On! vouchers and Living Away From Home Allowances Scheme
- SA – Sports Vouchers and School Card Scheme
- Tas – Help for school costs
- Vic – Financial help for families
- WA – Financial support for school students and KidSport
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.
School
Go to your state or territory government website to find out about enrolling in a public primary school.
- ACT – Enrol in a public school
- NSW – Guide to starting primary school and Enrolment
- NT – Age your child attends school and Enrol your child
- Qld – Enrolment
- SA – Primary school enrolment
- Tas – Enrolling your child
- Vic – Starting school
- WA – Starting school
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:
- Child Care Subsidy
- Additional Child Care Subsidy for grandparents
- Additional Child Care Subsidy if you’re in financial hardship
- Additional Child Care Subsidy if you’re transitioning to work, study or training.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can apply for the subsidies online.
If you haven’t linked Centrelink to your myGov account, find out how to link Centrelink.
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.
- ACT – Schools
- NSW – School student travel
- NT – Getting to and from school
- Qld – School transport
- SA – Getting to school
- Tas – Student travel
- Vic – School students
- WA – Student travel subsidies
Your child's health and development
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 more if your child has been diagnosed with a hearing loss 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.
If you haven’t linked Medicare to your myGov account, find out how to link to Medicare.
Find out more about Medicare and claiming your Medicare benefit through myGov.
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.
If you haven’t linked Medicare to your myGov account, find out how to link Medicare.
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.
- ACT – Child mental health
- NSW – Child Mental Health
- NT – Mental health services
- Qld – Child mental health
- SA – Child Mental Health
- Tas – Child Mental Health
- Vic – Child mental health
- WA – Child Health Service
Your child's dental costs
Find out if you can access low cost public dental services on your state or territory website.
- ACT – Dental services
- NSW – Dental services
- NT – Dental services for children
- Qld – Public dental services
- SA – SA Dental
- Tas – Dental Health Services
- Vic – Dental Health Services
- WA – Dental services
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.
If you haven’t linked Medicare to your myGov account, find out how to link Medicare.
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.
If you haven’t linked Medicare to your myGov account, find out how to link Medicare.