QUEENSLAND families with children in primary school will receive a financial boost from the start of 2026, with the State Government introducing a new Back To School boost aimed at easing the rising cost of education essentials.
The initiative will provide an annual $100 contribution for every eligible student from Prep to Year 6, helping parents manage expenses such as books, uniforms and school activities.
The program will run for four years, from 2026 through to 2029, and applies to students enrolled in both state and non-state schools, including special schools, schools of distance education and children registered for home education.
From the beginning of each school year, a $100 credit will be automatically applied to the account of every eligible primary school student.
Families will not be required to apply, with funding allocated based on enrolment census data. Each student is eligible for one $100 entitlement per year.
For families with children attending state schools, the credit can be used to reduce the cost of school-related expenses, including the Student Resource Scheme, school-organised camps and excursions, extra-curricular activities and other approved charges.
Parents retain control over how the credit is applied, allowing them to direct the funding to the areas where it is needed most.
In the non-state sector, schools will be responsible for administering the boost and demonstrating how the $100 is applied to reduce school costs. Non-state schools will also manage refunds for families if a student leaves the school part way through the year.
Parents who choose to home educate will receive the $100 payment directly from the department rather than through a school account, ensuring families outside the traditional school system are also supported.
Funding will be distributed to schools automatically using full-time equivalent enrolment data. State schools will receive payments in instalments, with most of the funding provided early in the year and adjustments made later to reflect updated enrolment figures.
Separate payment arrangements apply to schools of distance education due to the complexity of their enrolment profiles.
With cost-of-living pressures continuing to impact families across Queensland, the Back To School boost is designed to provide practical relief at a time when school expenses are often at their highest.
