❓ Mr. Pratt asks the Minister for Education about the delivery and uptake of the second round of student assistance payments. The Minister provides an update, highlighting the number of claims made and the total value claimed within the first 24 hours.
AnsweredQoN 49Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Student assistance payments
49. Mr Stephen Pratt to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's election commitment to deliver cost-of-living relief through
a second Western Australia student assistance payment.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
delivery of this second round of student assistance payments?
(2) Can the minister update the house on the
uptake of the payment in the 24 hours since its launch?
49. Mr Stephen Pratt to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's election commitment to deliver cost-of-living relief through
a second Western Australia student assistance payment.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
delivery of this second round of student assistance payments?
(2) Can the minister update the house on the
uptake of the payment in the 24 hours since its launch?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question and for his strong advocacy on delivering support for WA families. We
know that is exactly what the WA student assistance payment is doing.
Our government recognises that
Western Australians are struggling with the cost-of-living pressures brought on
by the global inflation crisis. That is why, at the recent state election, our Cook
Labor government committed to provide another round of our successful WA
student assistance payment. I am proud to say that we have not wasted a single
day since we were elected on 8 March in getting this support into the pockets
of Western Australian families with school-age children. Applications for the
second round of payments opened yesterday and claims can be made right up until
the last day of term 2 on 4 July. Payments of $150 for kindy and primary school
students, and, of course, $250 for those with secondary students are available
to all Western Australian families.
It was really wonderful to visit
Rivervale Primary School in the member for Belmont's electorate yesterday with
the Premier to meet families as they dropped off their kids for what was, of
course, the first day back at school. We have heard from parents how this cost-of-living
relief will help them get what they need for their kids, whether it is things
like uniforms, books, a pair of shoes or equipment for extracurricular activities.
Just yesterday we heard how Chris, a parent whose daughter attends Rivervale
Primary School, will use the payment to help buy new uniforms and cover the
cost of art classes for his daughter. Earlier this month, when I visited
Warwick Senior High School with the member for Kingsley, we heard from a
mother, Yolanda, who said that the payment was a huge help in buying sport
uniforms for her growing children.
The ServiceWA app is the fastest
way to claim the WA student assistance payment. The first payments are expected
to reach families tomorrow. Alternatively, people can claim by visiting the
Department of Education website or requesting a paper form from their school.
The member asked about the
uptake of the payment. I am proud to let members know today that as of 11:00
this morning, over 65,000 claims have been made in a 24-hour period—of
course, it will be more children, because some of those claims have been made by
people who have more than one child. That is over $22 million of claims so far,
with over $13 million claimed for high school students and over $9 million for
kindy and primary school students. I am confident that those numbers will keep
growing by the hour.
This is a really important election commitment that we
are delivering on for the people of Western Australia to support them with
important cost-of-living relief that supports their children in getting the
best outcomes at school.
Visitors
The Speaker: Just before I give you the call, member
for Geraldton, I would like to welcome the former member for Mandurah, who has
snuck in at the back—David Templeman, ex-Leader of the House. Welcome
back. It is lovely to see you.
question and for his strong advocacy on delivering support for WA families. We
know that is exactly what the WA student assistance payment is doing.
Our government recognises that
Western Australians are struggling with the cost-of-living pressures brought on
by the global inflation crisis. That is why, at the recent state election, our Cook
Labor government committed to provide another round of our successful WA
student assistance payment. I am proud to say that we have not wasted a single
day since we were elected on 8 March in getting this support into the pockets
of Western Australian families with school-age children. Applications for the
second round of payments opened yesterday and claims can be made right up until
the last day of term 2 on 4 July. Payments of $150 for kindy and primary school
students, and, of course, $250 for those with secondary students are available
to all Western Australian families.
It was really wonderful to visit
Rivervale Primary School in the member for Belmont's electorate yesterday with
the Premier to meet families as they dropped off their kids for what was, of
course, the first day back at school. We have heard from parents how this cost-of-living
relief will help them get what they need for their kids, whether it is things
like uniforms, books, a pair of shoes or equipment for extracurricular activities.
Just yesterday we heard how Chris, a parent whose daughter attends Rivervale
Primary School, will use the payment to help buy new uniforms and cover the
cost of art classes for his daughter. Earlier this month, when I visited
Warwick Senior High School with the member for Kingsley, we heard from a
mother, Yolanda, who said that the payment was a huge help in buying sport
uniforms for her growing children.
The ServiceWA app is the fastest
way to claim the WA student assistance payment. The first payments are expected
to reach families tomorrow. Alternatively, people can claim by visiting the
Department of Education website or requesting a paper form from their school.
The member asked about the
uptake of the payment. I am proud to let members know today that as of 11:00
this morning, over 65,000 claims have been made in a 24-hour period—of
course, it will be more children, because some of those claims have been made by
people who have more than one child. That is over $22 million of claims so far,
with over $13 million claimed for high school students and over $9 million for
kindy and primary school students. I am confident that those numbers will keep
growing by the hour.
This is a really important election commitment that we
are delivering on for the people of Western Australia to support them with
important cost-of-living relief that supports their children in getting the
best outcomes at school.
Visitors
The Speaker: Just before I give you the call, member
for Geraldton, I would like to welcome the former member for Mandurah, who has
snuck in at the back—David Templeman, ex-Leader of the House. Welcome
back. It is lovely to see you.
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