2027 Parent Contributions
Thomastown West Primary School looks forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of its parent contribution arrangements for 2027.

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

The hyperlinks below provide information about voluntary contributions you can make to support Thomastown West Primary School for 2027 and other payments you can choose to make.

Victorian government schools provide free instruction. This means all students have free access to all items, activities and services that schools use to deliver the curriculum, including reasonable adjustments to support students with disability.

Some families choose to make a voluntary financial contribution to support the school, and we are very grateful for this support.  Making a voluntary contribution is your choice. There is no expectation or pressure for families to contribute.

Thomastown West Primary School offers a range of items and activities that are additional to the free instruction provided to all students at our school. Financial help is available for extra-curricular items and activities if you are experiencing financial hardship (see further details under Financial Help for Families in the attached information). For a confidential discussion about how to access the financial help available, please contact:

If you need an interpreter, please contact 03 9605 3053 and give our school's phone number 94654317.  An interpreter can help you speak with us. This service is free. For more information, please see ‘How to use an interpreter to contact your school’:

https://content.sdp.education.vic.gov.au/media/guide-for-families-how-to-use-an-interpreter-to-contact-your-school-3012.

For more information on the Department of Education’s Parent Contributions policy, please see the information attached. You can read the full Department of Education’s Parent Contributions policy here: https://content.sdp.education.vic.gov.au/media/guide-for-families-how-to-use-an-interpreter-to-contact-your-school-3012.


Yours sincerely,

Carolyn Dunell                      Sandi Young                     Suzi Ilic

School Council President          Principal                            Business Manager

 

Choose your child's grade level below to access the notice outlining the parent contribution arrangements for 2027, approved by the TWPS School Council:

  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in PREP, 2027 CLICK HERE
  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in Grade 1, 2027 CLICK HERE
  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in Grade 2, 2027 CLICK HERE
  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in Grade 3, 2027 CLICK HERE
  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in Grade 4, 2027 CLICK HERE
  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in Grade 5, 2027 CLICK HERE
  • Parent Contributions Arrangements for students in Grade 6, 2027 CLICK HERE

 

Financial Support for Families

Thomastown West Primary School understands that some families may experience financial difficulty and offers a range of support options, including:

  • Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): this program provides funding for eligible students, including those in out of home care, and holders of eligible financially means-tested cards (such as health care cards), to attend activities like camps, sporting activities, excursions and incursions that are offered on a user-pays basis
  • State School Relief vouchers: this program helps cover costs such as school uniforms, shoes, and other essential school items where families are experiencing financial hardship or short-term crisis.
  • Smith Family Scholarships
  • Flexible Payment Arrangement


For a confidential discussion about accessing these services, or if you would like to discuss alternative payment arrangements, phone 03 9465 4317 to make an appointment with:

Sandi Young, Principal  and/or  Suzi Ilic, Business Manager

Email: thomastown.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au                                             

 

Payment methods

If you want to make voluntary contributions throughout the year, you can:

  • decide when to make each contribution
  • choose the amount of each contribution.

Payments can be made by direct debit to our school account, EFTPOS in the office (Visa and Mastercard accepted), or cash directly to the office.

 

To enable us to have classroom supplies ready to start the school year, you may choose to make your Voluntary contribution this year:

  • Monday – Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm during Term 4 (November - December 2026)

 OR Voluntary contributions can be made by parents and carers in the first weeks of Term 1, 2027:

  • Wednesday 27th January  (Curriculum Day)     8:30am - 4:00pm
  • Thursday  28th January – Friday 30th January 8:30am-9:30am and 2:30pm – 3:30pm
  • Monday 1st February – Friday 5th February      8:30am-9:30am and 2:30pm – 3:30pm

 

Educational items for the students to own (Refer to the notice, page 8):

 

Parents and carers may choose to purchase their child’s educational items elsewhere or, to ensure your MAXIM orders are delivered ready for the first week of school, orders are placed via the online portal this year. Choose the time that suits you best:

  • Before 13th November 2026: Each ‘EARLY BIRD’ family who submits their online MAXIM order before 13/11/26 will receive a raffle ticket for each child enrolled at TWPS, for the chance to win UNIFORM SHOP VOUCHERS.
  • Before 27th November 2026: Families who order before 27 November 2026 will receive one raffle ticket for each child enrolled at TWPS, for a chance to win a free lunch!
  • Before 18th December 2026: The 18th December is the last day to order to guarantee student’s pack is delivered to the school before Term 1 begins.

***A late fee of $15.00 will apply to orders placed on or after 18 December 2026***

  • Orders will be accepted over the December/January holidays HOWEVER, orders after 18/12/26 will be delivered in the first 2 weeks of Term 1 instead.
  • LAST CHANCE to order is the Friday of Week 3, Term 1 2027.

Orders will not be accepted after Friday 12th February 2027.

 

Refunds

Parent requests for refunds are subject to the discretion of the school and made on a case-by-case basis. Refunds will be provided where the school deems it is reasonable and fair to do so, taking into consideration whether a cost has been incurred, the Department’s Parent Payment Policy and Guidance, Financial Help for Families Policy (https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/financial-help-families/policy), and any other relevant information.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FREE INSTRUCTION

Schools give students free instruction in the curriculum. This includes: 

  • Free access to all items, activities and services that schools use to deliver the curriculum, including reasonable adjustments to support students with disability. 
  • The Victorian Curriculum F-10, the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), including the VCE Vocational Major, and the Victorian Pathways Certificate. 
  • Free access to all subjects, including elective subjects. 
  • Free access to select-entry and accelerated programs. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

FAMILIES CAN CHOOSE TO CONTRIBUTE  

 

Schools can invite 2 types of voluntary contributions: 

  

Voluntary contributions

Tax deductible contributions

Used towards enhanced educational programs and school environment, and additional resources and opportunities offered by schools

Used towards building and/or library fund (for those schools who have such funds)

 

Schools must advise the carers of students in out-of-home care and parents and carers who hold a financially means-tested card (such as a healthcare card) that the invitation to make voluntary contributions does not apply to them.

In addition, schools can invite parents and carers to pay for optional: 

  • Extra-curricular items and activities that go beyond the curriculum - for example, school photos, some excursions and some camps. 
  • Learning materials for students to individually use and own - for example, textbooks, stationery, and in secondary schools only, digital devices. If these items are not bought or provided from home, schools must provide students with free access to what they need for curriculum delivery.

 

 

FINANCIAL HELP FOR FAMILIES 

 

Each school has a contact person who can discuss with parents and carers the financial supports that are available. 

 

 

Please use this link to access the Department of Education's Parent Contributions policy.

 

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