Living Away from Home Allowances Scheme (LAFHAS)
Purpose
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts provides assistance to eligible Queensland parents whose children must board away from home to attend school on a daily basis because:
- their homes are geographically isolated; and
- they do not have reasonable daily access to a government school with the appropriate level of primary, secondary or special schooling.
Expenditure Guidelines
Entitlements are calculated and paid in accordance with legislation and guidelines covering the Living Away from Home Allowances Scheme (LAFHAS). The scheme has four component allowances:
- Remote Area Tuition Allowance (RTuA)
- Remote Area Travel Allowance (RTrA)
- Remote Area Allowance (RAA)
- Remote Area Disability Supplement (RADS)
Duration of Program
Ongoing
Policy Reference
Education Policy and Procedures Register (EPPR) FNM-PR-001:Living Away From Home Allowances
Paragraph 368 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 
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Eligibility
All payments are dependent on applicants' homes meeting distance eligibility criteria or being approved under special circumstances by the Minister for Education, Training and the Arts.
Payment is also dependent on school attendance certifications and distance checking which is undertaken on a risk management basis.
Form of Assistance
Allowances are paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) as follows:
- RTuA - direct to boarding schools to offset school tuition fee accounts.
- RTrA, RAA, RADS - direct to applicants' nominated bank accounts.
Payment Details
| Payment | During Month of | Proportion of Allocation Paid |
| Semester 1 | Monthly upon receipt and approval of application | 50% of annual entitlement |
| Semester 2 | July, subject to receipt of attendance certifications from schools | 50% of annual entitlement |
Contact
Further information specific to the LAFHAS
Freecall (Rural Queensland only): 1800 248 997
School Financial Services: 07 3237 0856
or contact us via email
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