News from the General Office

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) 2026

From 1 January 2026, families eligible for CSEF will see an increase in support to $400 for primary and secondary school children, up from $154 and $256 respectively. Applications for 2026 CSEF support will open from 27 January 2026.

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provide payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips

•  school-organised sport programs

• outdoor education programs

• excursions and incursions

Who Can apply?

Those that are eligible to apply for the CSEF are:

• families holding a valid means-tested concession card

• a student over 16 years who is considered a mature minor and holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card)

• a special consideration category also exists for refugee and asylum seeker families and students placed in out of home care.

   

Eligible means-tested cards

Means-tested concession cards must be valid on either:

• the first day of Term 1

• the first day of Term 2

   

The full list of eligible concession and health care cards is available on the Services Australia website.

For Veterans' Affairs, gold cards are the only means tested cards for this type. This card must be sighted, and a photocopy taken by the school to confirm the expiry date and eligibility.

Cards that are not financially means tested are not accepted.

Submitting an application

Parents/carers wishing to apply for CSEF payments for 2026 must submit an application form plus a copy of the correct concession card (front and back) before the last day of term 2. 

However, a parent/carer will only be required to submit an application form to the school in the following circumstances:

• the parent/carer is applying for the CSEF payment for the first time – i.e. an application form was not lodged with the school in the previous year; or
• circumstances have changed – e.g. there has been a change in the care arrangement of the student, a change of name or CRN, or a new sibling has commenced at the school and the parent/carer wishes to apply for the CSEF payment for the new sibling.

For all CSEF queries, please email nikki.eacher@education.vic.gov.au

2026 Parent Payments

 The VSC Council has recently approved the 2026 Parent Payments.  Excitingly, we have been able to find some efficiencies that will allow us to reduce the overall number of contributions for next year without impacting on the quality of education and support provided to students. 

Your contributions assist us to enhance and broaden the educational experience for our students. They allow us to offer students significant subject choices, equipment, and full access to a wide range of materials. Furthermore - beyond this, the generous contributions from our school community allows us to enhance the quality and number of the programs we offer. We want to thank you in advance for continuing to support the educational experience of our students.

2026 Parent Payment information will be available on the school website next week and in a Compass post on 7th November.  You will be able to make contributions via your Compass payment centre from the first week in December 2025.