The department provides assistance to parents of secondary school age students attending state and approved non-state schools to contribute towards the cost of textbooks and learning resources.
Parents have the option to receive the allowance directly or as an offset of fees associated with participation in any school textbook and resource scheme. This option is made available to each parent annually.
Ongoing
Textbook and Resource Allowance Procedure 
Student Resource Scheme Procedure
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 Chapter 13, Sections 368,369 
The following students are eligible:
The following students are NOT eligible:
Cash allowance paid through the school attended.
Textbook and Resource Allowance is calculated on full time equivalent (FTE) enrolment census data. For most schools, payments will be made automatically without the need for manual claim forms. See Part 1 for payment details and timeframes.
Given the additional complexity of enrolment profiles in Schools of Distance Education and campuses of the Australian Agricultural College, separate hard copy claim processes will be used. See Part 2 for payment details and timeframes.
(see separate process for SDEs and Agricultural Colleges)
| Timeframe | Activity |
|---|---|
| January/February | Initial payment of 80% of entitlement based on FTE state school enrolments (July census from previous year) |
| April/May | Adjustment payment based on February enrolment data for the current year (subject to availability of validated census data) |
| September/October | Supplementary payments based on July enrolment data. New enrolments entering schools between March and July will be identified and payments made. The few students who enrol and then leave between the February and July census dates will not attract a TRA payment from the department. Schools are required to pay the equivalent value of the TRA to the parent/caregiver or the next school. Students who commence studies after the first Friday in August have no entitlement. |
| Timeframe | Activity |
|---|---|
| March | Combined Initial and Adjustment payment based on eligible students at the end of February and submitted on hard copy claims to School Financial Services by 31 March |
| August | Supplementary payments based on eligible students enrolled between February and 31 July and not previously claimed by any other Queensland school. Hard copy claims to be submitted to School Financial Services by 31 August |
Notes
No claims can be made for students who commence studies after the first Friday in August.
Any claim received after 30 November will not be considered for payment.
Retrospective payments are not made for benefits in previous years.
| Year level | Amount |
|---|---|
| Years 8-10 | $112 per student per annum |
| Years 11-12 | $245 per student per annum |
| Ungraded students 13 years of age at 1 January | $112 per student per annum |
| Ungraded students 15 years of age at 1 January | $245 per student per annum |
| Two year full time course at an Agricultural College | $245 |
Part time students are entitled to the relevant FTE fraction of the allowance e.g. 0.2 FTE Yr 8 = $22.40.
Any students transferring after the end of February from any Queensland secondary school (state or non-state), a pro rata refund of TRA will be paid to the parent.
In order to achieve consistency among schools, pro rata refunds and payments should be made on the basis of a 40 week school year.
Textbook and Resource Allowance is closely linked with Student Resource Schemes in most schools. Pro rata refunds of Textbook and Resource Allowance are often combined with refunds under student resource schemes.
All schools other than Schools of Distance Education, Milpera State High School and Australian Agricultural College campuses in Queensland will receive payments automatically based on census data. No manual claim forms will be required.
Schools making manual claims will receive relevant forms directly from School Financial Services when required.
Finance Officer
School Financial Services
Telephone: (07) 3237 0864
Facsimile: (07) 3237 1187
This page was last reviewed on 30 Nov 2012 at 12:25PM
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Access keys |
Other languages
© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2005-2012.
