Privacy Statement
The Department of Education collects this information in accordance with
section 51 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 ("the Act") in order
to administer the Student Resource Scheme (SRS). The information will only
be accessed by school employees administering the SRS. However, if
required, some of this information may be shared with departmental
employees for the purpose of debt recovery.
Definitions
1. Reference to a “parent” is in accordance with the definition in the Act
and refers equally to an independent student.
The Student Resource Scheme (SRS)
2. The cost of providing instruction, administration and facilities for the
education of students enrolled at state schools is met by the State.
3. The school is not responsible for providing textbooks, in-class
consumables and personal resources for students.
4. The SRS enables parents to access certain resources, as detailed by
the school, for an annual fee.
5. Participation in the SRS is optional: parents are under no obligation to
participate.
Textbook and Resource Allowance (TRA)
6. The State provides the TRA annually to parents of eligible secondary
students to assist with the costs of education.
7. The TRA is paid to the school based on enrolment data and will
reduce the cost of particpating in the the SRS.
8. Parents who choose NOT to participate in the SRS and whose children
are eligible for the TRA have the option to receive the TRA as a credit to
their child’s school account or directly from the school.
Parents and Citizens’ (P&C) Association support of the SRS
9. All parents are invited to participate in the annual meeting of the P&C
Association at which the income and expenditure report is presented
and the proposed SRS inclusions and fees are tabled for approval.
Parents experiencing financial hardship
10. Principals may vary payment options and/or waive all or part of the
participation fee for parents experiencing financial hardship.
11. Parents experiencing financial hardship who wish to participate in the
SRS should contact the Principal to discuss options.
12. The onus of proof of financial hardship is on the parent.
13. The school may require annual proof of continuing financial hardship.
14. All discussions will be held in the strictest confidence.
Parents participating in the SRS
15. Parents indicate whether or not they wish to participate in the SRS
by completing this Participation Agreement Form.
16. [An] invoice/s for the amount of the annual participation fee will be
issued to the parent providing consent to participate in the SRS.
17. This agreement is for the duration of the student’s enrolment at the
school, unless a new Participation Agreement Form is completed.
18. Parents must notify the school before the invoice due date if they
intend to cease their participation in the SRS in any year.
19. Where a parent chooses to participate, they are agreeing to pay the
annual participation fee, in accordance with the payment frequency
option selected on the form. There is no provision for part- participation.
20. All SRS resources provided for the student’s temporary use remain
the property of the school and must be returned when requested by
the school or if the student leaves the school.
21. Parents are responsible for ensuring that any SRS resources
provided for the student’s temporary use are kept in useable
condition. Where an issued item is lost, not returned, or negligently
damaged, parents will be responsible for payment to the school of
the value of the item or its repair.
22. Parents must inform the school if items on the list of resources are
not received.
23. Non-payment of the participation fee by designated payment date(s)
may result in debt recovery action in accordance with the
Department’s Debt Management procedure. In such cases, the
Principal may:
• withdraw the student’s participation in the SRS
• require the return of items provided by the SRS
• withhold the provision of any further items under the SRS
• refuse participation in the SRS where participation fees are
overdue from the previous year(s), and/or
• exclude the student from optional, non-curricular activities and/or
• initiate debt recovery action.
Parents NOT participating in the SRS
24. Parents indicate whether or not they wish to participate in the SRS
by completing this Participation Agreement Form.
25. This agreement is for the duration of the student’s enrolment at the
school, unless a new Participation Agreement Form is completed.
26. Where a parent has previously indicated that they will participate in the
SRS, but wishes not to participate in any year(s), the parent must notify
the school prior to the invoice due date of their intention to cease
participation.
27. Parents who choose not to participate in the SRS are responsible
for providing their child with all items that would otherwise be
provided by the SRS. School-produced resources (e.g. Student
Diary) will be available for separate purchase from the school for non-
participants.
Operating the SRS
28. Schools will provide all parents with a list of resources provided by the
SRS to enable parents to assess the cost effectiveness of participation.
29. Schools will also provide non-participating parents with detailed lists of
resources to supply for their child.
30. All items included in the SRS must be able to be independently sourced
by parents who choose not to participate in the SRS, either from a third
party supplier or by purchasing a school-specific resource (such as a
diary or workbook) from the school.
31. Schools may distribute information and invoices to parents in the year
preceding the SRS but invoices must not be due before the end of the
first week of term 1 of the SRS year. All invoices must have a minimum
of 30 days for payment.
32. Parents must be given the option annually to choose not participate in
the SRS.
33. In return for payment of the participation fee, the SRS will provide
participating students with the resources and materials as outlined in the
school SRS documents.
34. SRS moneys received are to be expended only on student
resources outlined in the school’s SRS and must not be expended on
other items or used to raise funds for other purposes.
35. As the SRS operates for the benefit of participating parents and is
funded primarily from participation fees, the school retains control of the
resources and determines the rules around their availability to non-
participants.
36. A student entering the school during the school year is entitled to pay a
pro-rata fee to participate.
37. Where participation fees have been paid and a student leaves the
school during the year, schools must determine if parents will be
eligible for a pro-rata refund. This calculation will also take into
account any pro-rata allocation of the TRA (if eligible) and any
outstanding SRS debts (including any debts from damaged or non-
returned items). Where the cost of outstanding debts is higher than
the calculated refund, parents will be liable to pay this balance of
funds.
38. The replacement cost of any resource will be up to the maximum
value (subject to depreciation where appropriate) of the acquisition
cost to the school, as detailed on the annual SRS information
provided to parents.
39. Schools may initiate debt recovery action in accordance with the debt
management procedure where a parent has an outstanding debt