Hello!

I’ve got a question about school kids bonus for other parents the get it. This week I will get part 1 for my daughter but she is being paid the primary amount instead of the secondary amount. She’s in year 7 which is secondary in Victoria where we live and costs a fair amount more then primary does (books, fees and uniform is around $1000 compared to about $500 for primary). Anyone else that has a kid that is classified as secondary in year 7 get this too or did they stuff mine up? Am just curious before I call them.


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  • My teen is now going into year 9 for 2023. When he went into year 7 there was no monetary help with school costs. If you have a concession you could claim some free uniform and money towards school excursions that goes directly to the school account.


  • What a good question. I reckon what it is….is that Centrelink is Australiawide,miso they do as most of Australia does. They don’t look at it on a state by state basis. In Tas, grade 7 is also secondary, in WA it’s the end of primary etc. It wouldn’t hurt to call and ask, I’ll be surprised if it changes though


  • These are really the most interesting comments to read!


  • With centrelink, they don’t automatically update your children’s study details.. You have to online or via contacting them to let them know they are in secondary college now, or in tafe or university, etc..

    The reason? Because your child may be kept down, or stop going to school.. Just because they are of secondary school age, it doesn’t mean they are doing the secondary school studying. If that makes sense? I was told this by centrelink last year.


  • After 50 minutes waiting on the telephone, we were able to talk to Centrelink. They will put into our account the rest of the money that was missing. From now on there shouldn’t be any problem.


  • It’s impossible to reach Centrelink. What a terrible service they have!


  • Hi! Do you know what? The same happened to me! I was in holiday so I just noticed today that they paid the primary school bonus instead of the secondary one! But in the website we can’t find where to change the details, so I guess that tomorrow we’ll have to phone Centrelink!


  • Thanks for the tip! It will be helpful to a lot of people!!


  • Good to hear you got it sorted out. It’s a shame we will be loosing the bonus next year when mine will be in year 11, year 10 and the youngest starting Kindergarten.


  • Ok so I contacted centrelink and when your child starts secondary you have to go onto tour centrelink account online and update your childs education status. So for any mums that have kids starting next year, you might want to remember that :) Thanks for your replies gals :)


  • My daughter will start Year 7 in February. First year that kids in WA start high school in Year 7. The school bonus will surely be a big help.
    If there has been a mistake, better to let them know as soon as possible.


  • No, when my daughter started year 7 we definately recieved the secondary amount. They have probably made a simple mistake – super easy to do! If you have moved states at all, its possible they just dont realise she is in secondary.


  • Go online and get it changed I think they have made a mistake for your daughter!


  • Just checked for you, secondary in VIC is year 7 so go online and change it
    State/Territory Preschool (not eligible) Primary school (eligible) Secondary school (eligible)
    NSW Preschool Kindergarten, Years 1-6 Years 7-12
    VIC Kindergarten Preparatory, Years 1-6 Years 7-12
    QLD Kindergarten Preparatory, Years 1-7 Years 8-12
    SA Kindergarten Reception, Years 1-7 Years 8-12
    WA Kindergarten Pre-primary, Years 1-7 Years 8-12
    TAS Kindergarten Preparatory, Years 1-6 Years 7-12
    NT Preschool Transition, Years 1-6 Years 7-12
    ACT Preschool Kindergarten, Years 1-6 Years 7-12


  • I am in SA so may be different but high school is year 8.. there is something on the site that tells you what grades are which I think


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