Government Money Available for Health Care Card or Pension Card Holders or Foster Carers

CSEF (CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSION FUNDING)

CSEF is government funding that is available to families to offset the costs of camps, sporting events and excursions which form part of your school fees. The applicant must be one of the following on the first student day of Term 1 (28 January 2026) or Term 2 (20 April 2026):

a parent or carer who is the beneficiary of a financially means-tested card
a student over 16 years who is considered a mature minor and holds a valid means tested concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card
a parent or carer whose child is 16 or over and the beneficiary of a financially means tested card but are not considered a mature minor.

From 1 January 2026, the Government has increased the CSEF rates as follows:

$400 per year for eligible primary school students (previously $154)
$400 per year for eligible secondary school students (previously $256)

The School Savings Bonus was a one-time program for 2025 only and no longer applies for 2026. More information can be found at the following link: https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

If you meet the stated criteria, please complete a CSEF Form and return it to the Finance Office as soon as possible.

FROM OUR WELLBEING TEAM:

"Discussing War & Conflict"

With the recent escalation of conflict involving Iran, children may be hearing or seeing distressing updates through the 24-hour news cycle, social media and conversations at school. Even when events are geographically distant, repeated exposure to images, headlines and commentary can heighten anxiety, particularly for young people whose understanding of the world is still developing.

It is important for parents and caregivers to be mindful of overexposure, as constant coverage can amplify fear and uncertainty. Reassurance is key. Children need to feel safe and supported as they process complex global events.

Before beginning these conversations, take a moment to check in with your own emotions. Children often take their cues from the adults around them. Remaining calm, listening openly and offering reassurance can help your child regulate their feelings and maintain a sense of security. This Special Report provides practical guidance to help families navigate conversations about war and conflict in a measured, age-appropriate way, while reinforcing hope, empathy and resilience. We encourage you to take a moment to review the information provided. If this topic raises concerns about your child’s wellbeing, please consider seeking appropriate medical or professional support. Here is the link to this

Special Report: http://bhcs.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-discussing-war-conflict

TRAVEL CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE 2026

The travel Conveyance Allowance is Government funding available to school families to subside the cost of travel to School by both bus and car. The eligibility criteria for the Conveyance Allowance are set by the Department of Education, including; you must betraveling further than 4.8km by the most practical route to get to and from School and you must live closer to BHCS than to any other similar School. For BHCS, this is St Andrew’s Christian College in Wantirna South. If circumstances remain unchanged from year to year, there is no need to reapply, however if the following changes have occurred it will be necessary for you to complete a new Application in order to qualify for ongoing Conveyance Allowance in 2026:

A change from car travel to bus travel, or vice versa
Your family has moved and changed address
You have a child who has commenced at BHCS in 2026 who was not listed on your previous Application
New families to BHCS are encouraged to complete a form and submit their applications if they have not already done so

Payment of the funding is made directly to BHCS at the end of each term and is applied as a credit to families' school fee account. If you have any queries or to obtain a copy of the necessary form(s) please email your request to schoolfees@bhcs.vic.edu.au by the end of February 2026.

WORK AT BHCS

New opportunities to join our enthusiastic team here at BHCS have just been placed on our website! We're currently looking for:

Enrolments & Administration Officer
VCE/VET/VCE VM Administrator
Casual Relief Kinder Teachers
Maths & Humanities Teacher

If you, or someone you know, is interested in knowing more about these positions, you can read more by visiting: https://www.bhcs.vic.edu.au/careers

The Westfield Local Heroes Program

The Westfield Local Heroes program shines a spotlight on those local individuals and organisations dedicated to creating a positive impact in their community. Each year, Westfield recognises more than 120 Westfield Local Hero finalists across Australia and New Zealand. Over the past eight years, they have discovered and celebrated nearly one thousand individuals and provided over $9.8 million in community grants to their organisations.

Nominations for the 2026 program are now open.
The program shines a spotlight on individuals whose work or activities create meaningful change in their community across one or more of the following areas:
Family and Youth Support
Health and Wellbeing
Inclusion and Equity
Community resilience
Environmental sustainability

Each year, three finalists are selected to go through to the community vote for each of the 42 Westfield destinations. The community votes for their Local Hero at each of the 42 Westfield centres, with the highest-voted recipient awarded a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent. Each finalist also receives a $5,000 grant for their organisation or group.

The Westfield Local Heroes Program is now open. If you know someone within your community that qualifies, please consider putting them forward as a nomination. Nominations close Thursday 12 March 2026.

More information about the program can be found on their website.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FREE PANCAKE BREAKFAST - EVERY 2ND FRIDAY

TOASTIE THURSDAYS