The Education Maintenance Allowance provides assistance to low-income families by helping with the costs associated with the education of their children.
EMA applications are made by parents/guardians and submitted to schools. Schools have the responsibility to enter all EMA applications by the application close date onto the EMA Web System
The Government is restructuring the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for 2013 to better provide education support to families on a low income. Payments made direct to parents will be increased for eligible recipients at all year levels, with an additional increase for parents with students in Years Prep and 7 to support transition costs.
Education Maintenance Allowance in 2013
The EMA is being restructured to increase the focus on direct support to parents.
The changes to the EMA starting in 2013 include:
- The School Start Bonus will be discontinued.
- EMA payments to parents increased from:
- $117.50 to $200 for parents of eligible Prep students
- $117.50 to $150 for parents of all other eligible primary school students
- $235 to $300 for parents of eligible Year 7 students
- $235 to $250 for parents of all other eligible secondary school students up to the age of 16.
- School-based EMA payments will be discontinued ($117.50 per primary school student; $235.00 per secondary school student)
The discontinuation of the schools' component of the EMA will be partially offset by the redirection of equity based funding to some schools. These payments will be directed to schools with higher proportions of students from a lower socio-economic background, in recognition of the additional challenges faced in supporting these students to reach their potential. Further information about these changes will be provided directly to schools.
Changes to the EMA will be effective from the start of the 2013 school year.
The EMA is paid in two instalments annually (70% in March and 30% in August). The August 2012 (P2) payments will not be affected by the changes.
The changes apply to government and non- government schools.
Questions and answers
Why is the Government restructuring the Education Maintenance Allowance?
The Victorian Government is committed to better targeting investment to free up resources to support front-line services and ensure that funding targets those most in need.
The Government is restructuring the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) to better provide education support to families on a low income. Payments made direct to parents will be increased for eligible recipients at all year levels up to age 16, with an additional increase for parents with students in Years Prep and 7 to support transition costs.
Instead of the school component of the EMA payment, equity-based funding provided to government schools through the Student Resource Package (SRP) will be increased to support schools to educate students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Funding will also be provided to non-government schools, which distribute funding based on equity weightings.
What changes are being made to the EMA?
From 2013, the EMA is being restructured to increase the focus on direct support to parents.
School-based EMA payments will be discontinued from 2013 and partially redirected to provide enhanced support direct to parents.
Changes include:
- Parental EMA payments increased from:
- $117.50 to $200 for parents of EMA-eligible Prep students
- $117.50 to $150 for parents of all other EMA-eligible primary school students
- $235 to $300 for parents of EMA-eligible Year 7 students
- $235 to $250 for parents of all other EMA-eligible secondary school students up to the age of 16.
- School-based EMA payments will be discontinued ($117.50 per primary school student; $235.00 per secondary school student) with fifty percent of that payment being redirected to boost equity funding provided to needy government and non-government schools.
What support will be provided to families to meet the costs of transitioning to a new school?
Although the School Start Bonus is being discontinued, the Government remains committed to supporting those parents in need of financial support to meet the costs associated with transitioning to a new school.
EMA payments made direct to low-income parents will be increased across the board, but with a particular focus on supporting the increased costs associated with students in Prep and Year 7.
Parental EMA payments will increase from $117.50 to $200 for Prep students and from $235 to $300 for Year 7 students.
Who is eligible for the EMA?
The EMA provides financial assistance to families on a low income to help with the cost of essential educational items such as textbooks, stationery, uniforms and excursions.
EMA is a means-tested payment - parents must hold a Centrelink/Veterans Affairs concession card to be eligible.
In 2012, the EMA amount is $235 per primary student and $470 per secondary student. At present, half of the EMA payment goes to schools and half is provided direct to parents.
Under the new arrangements, school-based payments will be discontinued and parental payments increased.
When will these changes take effect?
The changes to the EMA will be effective from the start of the 2013 school year. The EMA is paid in two instalments annually (70% in March and 30% in August).
Will the Instalment 2, 2012 EMA payments be affected by the changes?
No, the Instalment 2, 2012 payments will not be affected by the changes.
The changes to the EMA will be effective from the start of the 2013 school year.
Will schools continue to process the EMA application forms using the EMA web system in 2013?
Yes. The existing EMA processing arrangements will continue in 2013.
An EMA application form must be completed by eligible parents/guardians and submitted annually to schools. Schools have the responsibility to enter all EMA applications by the application close date onto EMA Web System (secure site)
How will parents receive their EMA payment in 2013?
Parents can elect to have their EMA paid in one of the following ways:
- paid by direct deposit (Electronic Funds Transfer) into the parent’s bank account; or
- paid to the school to be held as credit which the parent can use towards education expenses; or
- paid by cheque which will be posted to the school for collection.
Do these changes apply to non-government schools?
Yes, these changes apply to non-government schools.
An injection of funds will be provided to non-government schools, in accordance with the criteria for equity funding. This ongoing injection of funding will partially offset the discontinuation of school-based EMA payments.
What impact will the removal of school-based EMA payments have on government schools?
School based EMA payments will cease from 1 January 2013. However, the savings achieved will allow equity-based funding to be provided to those government schools that have the highest proportion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Student Family Occupation (SFO) funding will be provided through an increase to the Student Resource Package (SRP) to assist schools to provide the essential educational items for students most in need.
How are ‘equity-based’ payments to schools determined?
Student Family Occupation (SFO) funding is provided to schools with the greatest densities of students from low socio-economic backgrounds, recognising the additional support required to enable these students to reach their potential.
SFO funding is targeted at those students whose readiness to learn is affected by a range of circumstances, including prior educational experiences and family or other circumstances.
Below are some examples of how the funding changes may impact different types of schools.
Note: the outcome for each school will be dependent on a number of factors, including its size, its SFO index and its number of EMA students.
Example 1:
School A is a small sized secondary school with 551 students.
Its students are from relatively low socio-economic backgrounds and so the school’s SFO rating is 0.84. In 2012 it received $293,000 in SFO equity funding.
40% of its students currently receive EMA, with the school’s EMA payment being $47,000 in 2012.
In 2013 the new arrangements will mean:
- A gain in SFO funding of $69,000.
- A loss in EMA payments of $47,000.
- Net Gain for school A $22,000.
Example 2:
School B is a small primary school with 177 students.
Its students are from a medium socio economic background and so the school’s SFO rating is 0.57. In 2012 it received $20,000 in SFO equity funding.
28% of its students currently receive EMA, with the school’s EMA payment being $6,000 in 2012.
In 2013 the new arrangements will mean:
- A gain in SFO funding of $5,000
- A loss in EMA payments of $6,000
- Net Loss for school B $1,000
Example 3:
School C is a large secondary school with 1,020 students
Its students are from a higher socio economic background and so the school’s SFO rating is 0.34. In 2012 it received no SFO equity funding.
13% of its students currently receive EMA, with the school’s EMA payment being $29,000 in 2012.
In 2013 the new arrangements will mean:
- A gain in SFO funding of $0
- A loss in EMA payments of $29,000
- Net Loss for school C $29,000
Who can parents and schools contact if they have concerns regarding their EMA payments?
Parents should contact their child’s school for information about their EMA payments. Information for parents is also available: Education Maintenance Allowance
Schools can email ema@edumail.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 060 970 for EMA policy advice.
Schools requiring further information about their SFO funding impact should contact the Schools Resources Management Unit.
What support will be provided to schools losing funding?
The Department’s Financial Policy and Guidelines for Schools is available at School Financial Guidelines
School councils have the responsibility to develop policy and plans to allocate their overall resources in accordance with the goals, targets and strategies outlined in their strategic plan. This includes the allocation of funding provided under the SRP, any other funding provided by DEECD and locally-raised funds.
Access to State Schools Relief Committee support is available via the principal to assist with clothing/uniforms for families in financial hardship.
EMA Website For Parents
For information directed at parents/guardians about the Education Maintenance Allowance, see: Education Maintenance Allowance
Bridging Visa (Refugee Status)
Please note, students of families on a Bridging Visa (refugee status) are enrolled in schools fee exempt. These families can apply for the Education Maintenance Allowance under the Special Consideration category. A letter of support is needed from an appropriate welfare agency (i.e. the Australian Red Cross) to verify their situation.
For more information, please read the Policy Statement - Families holding a Temporary Visa or a Bridging Visa (Refugee Status) (doc 27.08 KB)
EMA support
For questions related to EMA see the following pages:
EMA system support is available by phoning the DEECD Service Desk on 1800 641 943, select 'option 3' and then select 'option 6' or email your question to ema@edumail.vic.gov.au