More than one million payments have been made to families from the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund making sure disadvantaged students don’t miss out on vital activities with their peers.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today marked over $2.9 million in payments to students across the Werribee region from the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund since 2015.

Since 2015, a total of 1,018,213 payment have been across the state to families experiencing disadvantage, ensuring students can attend extra-curricular activities such as school trips, swimming and sport programs, outdoor education programs, excursions and incursions.

Over the past five years, the Andrews Labor Government has invested more than $184 million in this program, helping to ensure that every Victorian child has access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom.

In 2018, a record 222,000 students – or more than one in four government school students – received the CSEF, ensuring that no child misses out on joining their classmates in important and fun educational activities.

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents, with a child enrolled in a Victorian government or non-government school, are eligible to apply.

The Fund was introduced in 2015 to replace the Education Maintenance Allowance which was cut by the former Liberal Government.

Payments of $125 per year for eligible primary school students, and $225 per year for eligible secondary school students are made directly to the school and are tied to the student.

Through its Education State reforms, the Victorian Government is committed to addressing disadvantage and is funding initiatives to ensure the most disadvantaged Victorian students have every chance to succeed at school.

These initiatives include school breakfast clubs, providing access to glasses to students who need them, State Schools Relief, alongside the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“For students across Werribee, these payments will mean that no student misses out on joining their classmates in important and fun educational activities.”

 “Since 2015, we’ve distributed more than 18,000 payments to families and schools in Werribee to ensure that every Victorian child – regardless of where they live or their family’s situation – can participate in fun, educational activities that enrich their learning and school experience.”