WA Student Assistance Payment - Secondary
This page is a direct rule-based guide for AU_WA_STUDENT_ASSISTANCE_PAYMENT_SECONDARY (rule version 2025-26, effective 1 July 2024). It explains the Western Australian Student Assistance Payment for secondary students - a flat $250 per eligible child paid each year to help with the cost of high school.
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Quick Answer
You may qualify when you live in Western Australia, have dependent children and at least one of them is enrolled in secondary school. The payment is a flat $250 per eligible secondary student.
It pays cash: the amount is a fixed $250 multiplied by your secondary_school_children_count. With state = WA and dependent_children = true, a family with two high-school kids receives $500 for the year.
Outcome summary: a predictable annual top-up that helps cover uniforms, textbooks, devices and other high-school costs, paid in rounds (2024 Round 1, 2025 Round 2, 2026 Round 3) with the rate held steady at $250 per child.
What Is This Payment?
The WA Student Assistance Payment is a cost-of-living measure run by the Western Australia Department of Education. The secondary stream gives families a set amount for each enrolled high-school student so the back-to-school period is more affordable.
In the rule database this is a Group A benefit with monetary_primary as its result role: it produces a real dollar payment, not just a concession or a card. The secondary stream pays $250 per eligible student.
It is a standing annual program, not a one-off 2026-27 budget announcement. Each year the Department opens a new round and the secondary rate has stayed constant at $250 per student.
How Much Can You Get?
The amount block is fixed with a yearly period. The base is $0 and you receive $250 for every secondary student ($250 x secondary_school_children_count).
- One secondary child: $250 for the year.
- Two children: $500 for the year.
- Three children: $750 for the year.
The rate is the same in every round - it does not taper with income, and there is no maximum number of children.
Eligibility Conditions
The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition below must be true.
- Western Australian resident:
state = WA. The payment is only for WA families. - Has dependent children:
dependent_children = true. You must be responsible for at least one dependent child. - At least one secondary student:
secondary_school_children_count >= 1. The child must be enrolled in secondary school.
There is no income or assets test in this rule - eligibility turns on residency, having dependent children and a current secondary enrolment.
If you also have a primary or kindergarten student, that child is covered by the separate $150 primary stream rather than this $250 secondary stream, so families with kids in both stages can qualify for both.
How To Apply
The channel is online through the Western Australia Department of Education, and no supporting evidence is required.
- Apply online once the relevant annual round opens.
- No documents to upload - the Department verifies enrolment.
- Check the official page each year for round dates and the claim window.
Rule-Based Scenarios
Scenario 1: one high-school student
Marcus in Rockingham has one child in year 9. He applies online when the round opens and receives $250, which goes towards a new laptop for class.
Scenario 2: two secondary children
The Patel family in Albany has children in years 8 and 11. With two eligible secondary students they receive $500 for the year, covering uniforms and textbooks.
Scenario 3: secondary plus primary
Chloe and Daniel in Kalgoorlie have one child in year 10 and one in year 3. The year-10 child draws $250 from this secondary stream and the year-3 child draws $150 from the primary stream, for $400 across the household.
Scenario 4: three teenagers
Fatima in Armadale has three children in years 7, 9 and 12. All three are eligible secondary students, so she receives $750 for the year.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking it is means-tested: this rule has no income or assets test - residency, dependent children and a secondary enrolment are what matter.
- Waiting for a 2026-27 budget version: it is a standing annual program. The rate is $250 per secondary student and a new round opens each year regardless of the budget cycle.
- Missing the round window: the payment is paid in annual rounds (2024 Round 1, 2025 Round 2, 2026 Round 3) - claim while the relevant round is open.
- Confusing it with the primary payment: secondary students draw $250 each; primary and kindergarten students are covered separately at $150 each.
- Assuming you must send receipts: no evidence is required - it is not a reimbursement of specific costs, it is a flat per-student payment.
- Counting only one child when you have more: the payment is $250 for every eligible secondary child, with no cap on the number of children.
Related Benefits
- WA Student Assistance Payment (Primary) - $150 per primary or kindergarten student.
- SmartRider concession - cheaper public transport fares in WA.
- KidSport - WA vouchers towards club sport fees for children.
- WA State Concession Card - a card unlocking WA concessions.
- Family Tax Benefit Part A - federal payment for children aged 13-19.
- Commonwealth Rent Assistance - federal help with private rent for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the WA Student Assistance Payment for secondary students?
It is a flat $250 per eligible secondary student, each year. Two eligible children means $500, three means $750, and so on.
Is there an income test?
No. The rule has no income or assets test. You qualify based on living in WA, having dependent children and having at least one child enrolled in secondary school.
Do I need to provide receipts or evidence?
No. No supporting evidence is required. It is a per-student payment, not a reimbursement of specific school costs.
Is this a new 2026-27 budget measure?
No. It is a standing annual program. A new round opens each year (2024 Round 1, 2025 Round 2, 2026 Round 3) and the rate has stayed at $250 per secondary student.
What if I have both secondary and primary students?
Each stage is covered separately. Secondary students draw $250 each, and primary or kindergarten students draw $150 each, so you can qualify for both.
How do I claim it?
Apply online through the Western Australia Department of Education when the relevant annual round opens. No documents need to be uploaded.
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