School Start Bonus

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School Start Bonus

Preparing for primary school, or making the transition to Year 7, is an important time for a child and a big expense for a family. The Victorian Government is helping to ease the strain for families by providing a one-off School Start Bonus (SSB) of $300.00 for each student entering Prep or Year 7 in 2010.

The SSB helps meet the costs of purchasing school and sporting uniforms, school bags and other school items so that students get the best possible start to school. The Bonus will be paid to families using a Payment Voucher, which a parent or guardian will present at their local Post Office along with Photo Id for a cash redemption. 

Schools play a pivotal role in delivering the Bonus to families. They are responsible for gathering and entering enrolment information into the School Start Bonus system, and printing and delivering payment vouchers to Parents.

The SSB system functions to be used by the school will be available through the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) system’s home page.

Please note: Friday 26 March is the deadline for eligibility for the School Start Bonus in 2010.

Changes to the School Start Bonus system

    The SSB system for 2010 has had a number of improvements made to streamline importing and maintaining enrolments:

    • For government schools, a new export job is available in CASES21 to send your enrolment data directly to SSB overnight.
    • Importing has been streamlined with improved looks and direct editing of errors so you don't have to go back to correct source data or retry importing.
    • Enrolments can be transferred between schools to minimise cancellations and re-entry of data.
    • A new feature called SSB Assist will help you through all the tasks you are likely to need to perform in the system and includes explanatory notes that could help you decide the best course of action.

    The SSB system's comprehensive online ‘Help’ is now aligned with the Reference Guide document that is available to assist you with entering your enrolments and printing payment vouchers.

    The online ‘Help’ button, available on most screens, should be able to answer any of your questions should you require some assistance.

    For further information, see: School Start Bonus Voucher Reference Guide  (PDF - 1.6Mb)

    Important information

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    Key dates

    SSB deadlines and important dates:

    • 5 October 2009 to end of Term 4 2009 – schools can process enrolments in SSB and distribute vouchers to parents and guardians. Schools can choose when they do the work but vouchers must be printed and distributed to parents by the end of the 2009 school year.
    • Monday 11 January 2010 – first date parents can redeem vouchers at post offices.
    • During Term 1, 2010 - schools can still issue vouchers, enter new enrolments in the SSB system and produce vouchers for students who don't enrol until Term 1 commences.
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    Support for schools

    New school users who do not have access to EMA must request access to EMA/SSB by submitting a form – EMA/SSB User Access Request.

    Queries may be directed to Head Office by emailing school.start.bonus@edumail.vic.gov.au

    For more information, see: School Start Bonus Frequently Asked Questions

    Phone support: 1800 809 834 option 6    

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    Support for parents

    For information for parents on eligibility, payments and home schooled students, see: School Start Bonus

    Phone support: 1800 809 834 option 6