- Cook Labor Government delivering on $89 million election commitment to cut families' school costs amid global inflationary pressures
- WA families able to start claiming WA Student Assistance Payment from 28 April
- Payments of $250 available for every secondary school student and $150 for primary and kindergarten students
- Parents who claim through the ServiceWA app to receive payment in around a week
The Cook Government will deliver hundreds of dollars in cost-of-living relief to Western Australian families with school-aged children, with claims for the 2025 WA Student Assistance Payment set to open at the start of Term 2.
Delivering on a significant 2025 election commitment, the $89 million package will provide cost-of-living relief payments of $250 for each secondary student and $150 for primary and kindergarten students.
The initiative will put money in the pockets of families to assist with the costs of school essentials such as uniforms, school shoes and bags, textbooks and IT equipment, extracurricular activities, stationery, and excursions.
Families will be able to start claiming the payment from Monday, 28 April, with applications open for the remainder of Term 2 until Friday, 4 July.
This follows a successful WA Student Assistance Payment in 2024, when almost 400,000 eligible student claims were paid, representing 80 per cent of those eligible to claim.
Additional support will be provided to families in regional areas to help them access the payment, including alternate claim methods and targeted support for communities that may not have claimed the payment during last year's initiative.
Applications for the 2025 WA Student Assistance Payment can be made for all students from kindergarten to year 12 who are enrolled in a WA public or non-government school or registered for home education.
The fastest way to claim is using the ServiceWA app, which will ensure the payment is received in around a week. Alternative claim methods will be available including via the Department of Education website, with paper forms to be made available where needed.
Eligibility will be validated through the student's unique WA Student Number (WASN), which can be found on a student's SmartRider, school report or NAPLAN results.
For more information about the 2025 WA Student Assistance Payment, visit: education.wa.edu.au/wasap
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"My government understands the cost-of-living pressures families are feeling as a result of the global inflationary crisis, and we will continue to provide relief where we can.
"As adadfrom Kwinana, I know how quickly school expenses can add up, and I want to ensure every family benefits from this initiative.
"We saw how important this initiative was to parents last year, when more than 400,000 families received the WA Student Assistance Payment to put towards their school costs.
"I encourage eligible families to get ready to claim this latest round of the WA Student Assistance Payment, which will address cost-of-living pressures and support parents in getting their children what they need for school."
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"Every family wants their child to have the best education possible, and the Cook Government is committed to ensuring Western Australian students have what they need to thrive at school.
"This additional payment will help ease financial pressures for families, covering essentials like books and uniforms or extracurricular needs.
"There will be even more focus this year on making sure regional families access the payment and benefit from this important initiative.
"By helping families, we're making sure more students have what they need to focus on their education and reach their full potential."
