In brief:

• The Education Equity Fund helps low-income families with the cost of education essentials for their children.
• Families can apply for a one-off payment from today.
• The Fund supports students from preschool to year 12 in all ACT schools.

From today, low-income families can access financial help to use on education essentials for their children.

Eligible ACT families can apply for a one-off payment via the ACT Government’s Future of Education Equity Fund.

This will help cover 2025 education expenses as cost-of-living pressures continue.

The Fund helps make sure Canberra students have equal opportunities to participate fully in their schooling.

It supports families to buy education essentials like:

• book packs
• uniforms
• excursions
• sports equipment and activities
• tuition
• music lessons.

The Equity Fund supports students from preschool through to Year 12 in all ACT schools.

Assistance so far

In 2024, the Fund has provided more than $3.3 million to more than 5,700 students from financially disadvantaged families.

Applications for the 2025 school year have opened earlier than for 2024.

This aims to help families manage back-to-school costs. It also ensures children can start the year with everything they need.

Applying is easy

You can apply for the fund if you are a low-income family with a child enrolled in an ACT school from preschool to year 12.

Applications also allow families to apply for all eligible students in their family in a single application.

This is the case even if children attend different schools.

Payments for the 2025 school year are:

• $400 for preschool students
• $500 for primary school students
• $750 for high school and college students.

Applications for the 2025 Equity Fund will remain open until the end of November 2025.

Find more information about the Equity Fund

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