Mr. Rundle questions the Department of Education about tracking appeals for financial assistance related to education costs. The Department clarifies it tracks Secondary Assistance Scheme applications but doesn't plan to track all financial hardship requests due to administrative burden.

AnsweredQoN 700Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 March 2023
Portfolio
Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to cost of living support for families within the public education system, and the Minister’s answer to my question without notice on this topic in the Assembly on 21 February 2023, and ask: (a) Does the Department of Education track the number of appeals for assistance in relation to costs of education; (b) If yes to (a), please table the number of appeals for such assistance in: (i) Term 1, 2023; (ii) Term 4, 2022; (iii) Term 3, 2022; (iv) Term 2, 2022; (v) Term 1, 2022; (vi) Term 4, 2021; (vii) Term 3, 2021; (viii) Term 2, 2021; and (ix) Term 1, 2021; and (c) If no to (a), will the Department begin to track the number of appeals for assistance: (i) If not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
9 May 2023
Responded by
Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Response time
9 days
(a)   The Department does not specifically track the number of appeals for assistance in relation to costs of education, but it does track the number of applicants seeking assistance through the Secondary Assistance Scheme.
(b)   The Secondary Assistance Scheme is an annual financial assistance program with the following number of applications in 2021 and 2022.
2021
2022
Public Schools
23,751
20,682
Non-Government Schools
7,807
7,053
The Department will continue to track applications through the Secondary Assistance Scheme but does not have plans to introduce additional reporting requirements for public schools to maintain a register relating to financial hardship requests, as it would generate an additional administrative burden on schools.

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