Did you know school fee relief is available?

During the school closures over the last term an announcement was made by the National Catholic Education Commission that families in need would be able to apply for school fee assistance (https://cathnews.com/cathnews/37610-catholic-schools-to-offer-fee-relief?).

Executive Director of NCEC Jacinta Collins stated, “If families are affected by job losses, business closures or other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge them to speak to their school as quickly as possible, to get immediate relief and determine the level of assistance needed.”

“We appreciate how difficult it is for parents to come forward with financial concerns, but our schools will ensure each case is handled with care and discretion,” she said.

CSPV welcomed the commitment by Catholic Education Commission of Victoria in offering school fee assistance for those families in need across Victorian Catholic schools.

CSPV would like to ensure all families are aware of the assistance available, particularly if there are parents who have lost their jobs or are still on JobKeeper payments. Whilst assistance is available, there are some criteria that must be met in order to qualify for fee assistance and provision of fee assistance will be at the discretion of each school and may be different in each diocese.

As some families are more affected than others, there is no requirement for blanket fee relief and schools have been asked to offer adjustments on a case-by-case basis to ensure that support and assistance goes to where it is most needed.

If you have concerns about your financial situation, please contact your school Principal to explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child’s ongoing education at your school.

To facilitate planning, your diocesan office will respond to applications from your school as promptly as possible. Therefore the first point of contact is your school Principal or finance manager.

CECV are absolutely committed to working with families as we get through these challenging times.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact your school Principal.

Facts about school fee assistance for Catholic school families in Victorian schools:

• Families on JobKeeper are able to apply for a Health Care Card which then provides opportunity for fee relief - must apply before the end of Term 2.
• Families on a Health Care Card and CDF assistance receive discounts on excursions, camps and sporting activities.

For further information, contact your school to find out if you might be eligible for fee assistance.