PARENT INFORMATION

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES FOR 2026

CSEF – Camps, Sports & Excursions Funding

Families holding a Centrelink concession card may be eligible for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF). Please complete the application form attached to the Newsletter and return it to the office along with your concession card so staff can make a copy for CSEF processing.

Parent Payment Policy

At our school, we’re proud to offer a rich and engaging curriculum that sparks curiosity, encourages creativity, and supports every child’s growth and success. Our dedicated staff work together to create meaningful learning experiences across all year levels, and we truly value the strong partnership we share with our families and wider school community. Your support through the Parent Payment Policy (see attached) helps us provide even greater opportunities and resources for our students. We are sincerely grateful for any contributions you can make as your involvement makes a real difference in our school community. Please see the Department of Education’s Parent Payments Policy overview attached.

Dear parent / guardian,

Sunshine Special Developmental School is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of Sunshine Special Developmental School’s voluntary financial contributions for 2026

Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfill the standard curriculum requirements, and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. Nevertheless, the ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. We want to thank you for all your support, whether that is through fundraising or volunteering your time. This has made a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer.

Sunshine Special Developmental School is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient under the Income Tac Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) with the result that any donations made by you will be tax deductable. To be tax deductable, your donation needs to be made voluntarily. We have suggested an amount to be contributed under “Curriculum Contributions” and “Other Contributions” below, but please feel free to contribute an alternative amount. Amounts paid under “Extra-Curricular Items and Activities” are not donations and are not tax deductable.

For further information on the Department’s Parent Payments Policy please see a one-page overview attached.

Your sincerely.

Lisa Murphy

Principal

FREE Public transport

From 1 January 2026, people aged under 18 can travel free on all Victorian public transport services using a new youth myki card. This includes trams, trains, buses and coach services.

To access free travel, they must tap the myki card on and off each time they travel. For areas that do not use myki cards, they must show their myki card to travel free.

More information about the youth myki card will be available later in Term 4, 2025 – refer to the myki types webpage on the Transport Victoria website.

For more information about other travel options to school, and support for eligible students, refer to the Travelling to school webpage on the Victorian Government website.

Sunshine SDS 2026 Term 1

Week 6- 6th March 2026 · 06 Mar 2026

In this issue