WA Schools Urge Families to Access Cost-of-Living Aid
Education Minister Sabine Winton has today reminded Western Australian families about two key Cook Government cost-of-living initiatives, as regional students converge on Perth sporting venues for the start of Senior High School Country Week today.
The Minister is encouraging families of school-aged children who are yet to claim the WA Student Assistance Payment to do so before Term 2 ends this Friday, 4 July.
Parents and carers of eligible students from kindergarten to year 12, who are enrolled in WA public or non-government schools or registered for home education, can claim $250 for each secondary student and $150 for each kindergarten or primary student.
Claims have been submitted for more than 413,729 students already, which puts the program on track to surpass last year’s claim rate.
This reflects a claim rate of 76.26 per cent in regional areas, which is higher than last year’s regional claim rate of 71 per cent.
Extra support has been offered this year in regional and other communities that may not have claimed the payment in its first round, including alternative claim methods, social media promotion, targeted outreach, supplying internet dongles to remote communities, and the new ServiceWA Digital Assist Kiosk trial.
The fastest way to claim is using the ServiceWA app, which will ensure the payment is received in around a week.
Alternative claim methods are available via the Department of Education website, with paper forms also available where needed.
Eligibility for the payment is validated through each student’s unique WA student number (WASN), which can be found on school reports, previous NAPLAN results or SmartRider cards.
It comes as a record approximately 4,000 regional students from 56 senior high schools have travelled to Perth to take part in Senior High Schools Country Week from 30 June to 4 July, with 950 students from 29 schools set to compete as part of District High Schools Country Week later in the year.
The event sees students from regional public and non-government schools compete in 10 sports at locations across metropolitan Perth, including Perth High Performance Centre and Bendat Basketball Centre.
Sports include Australian rules football, soccer, netball, basketball, badminton, hockey, indoor cricket, touch football, volleyball and dance.
Delivering on a key 2025 election commitment, regional students’ families will be provided financial support through the Country Week Assistance Program to help cover travel and accommodation costs to support students’ participation.
Financial support is being provided directly to schools based on the distance its students need to travel from Perth. This includes:
As part of the 2025-26 State Budget, $8 million has been committed over four years to help ensure students can attend Country Week events in Perth.
For more information about the WA Student Assistance Payment, visit: www.education.wa.edu.au/wasap
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
“I am proud that the Cook Government is delivering on these two important cost-of-living measures that directly help WA families cut costs for school items and events.
“With the claims period for the WA Student Assistance Payment closing on Friday, I strongly encourage all families to submit their claims as soon as possible so they don’t miss out.
“I also want to wish all the regional students competing in Senior High Schools Country Week all the best for this year’s event.
“Country Week has a proud tradition spanning more than a century and the 2025 competition promises to be another fantastic celebration of student talent, teamwork and school spirit.
“I am very much looking forward to seeing our students participate and having the opportunity to excel across a range of sporting competitions.
“Our government will continue to support initiatives that support WA families and ensure students get the best possible school experience.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
“Country Week is a fantastic event that uses sport to bring communities together from all over Western Australia.
“We know how important Country Week is for so many students in the regions, which is why helping families with the cost of attending was a key part of the cost-of-living package we announced in the recent State Budget.
“By cutting costs for families, we’re helping to make Country Week more accessible for more students right around WA.”
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook Labor Government/WA-school-families-reminded-to-access-key-cost-of-living-support-20250630