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Back to School Program - Education Assistance

Each year, DVCS runs a Back to School Program aimed at supporting low income families in need of financial assistance with education expenses. This program is available to families who live in the Banyule City Council area and have an address showing on their Centrelink card in one of the following suburbs: Briar Hill, Bundoora (part of), Eltham North (part of), Greensborough (part of), Lower Plenty, Montmorency, St Helena and Watsonia.

Starting from 1st November 2019, DVCS will provide eligible clients with funding of $100.00 per child (up to a maximum of $500.00 per family with 5 or more children). Funding is available in the form of:

Prepaid Vouchers for the purchase of text books and other items from North of the Yarra Booksellers
Payment via electronic funds transfer (EFT) direct to nominated schools.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to Schools

EFT payments will be made to schools on behalf of eligible families, via EFT to your nominated bank. Remittance advice will be emailed to schools once EFT payments are made. Remittance advice will include the Child / Family Name and the Parent/Guardian Name. All EFT payments must be credited to the Child / Family account and allocated according to the specified purpose nominated by the parent/guardian through discussion with the school (i.e. Essential School Items, Camps, Sports and Excursions etc).

The Back to School program will close on 18th December 2019 and will reopen from Monday 6th January 2020 to Friday 28 February 2020.

Please Note: this program is aimed at assisting low income families struggling to meet education expenses. Families should be encouraged to apply for Camps, Sports and Education Fund (CSEF) and States Schools Relief (SSR) funding before visiting DVCS for Back to School funding. Please advise anyone that you refer to the program that they will be assessed by a Community Support Worker to see if they are eligible.

The DVCS Back to School Program is funded by the fundraising efforts of the wonderful Volunteers at our Opportunity Shops in Macleod and Diamond Creek. Our other community welfare programs include Emergency Relief (food, medication, clothing and transport, Telstra vouchers) Personal and Financial Counselling, Tax Help, Information and Referral and Mailbox service. For more information, please visit www.dvsupport.org.au.