About the Back to School Boost
The Queensland Government introduced the Back to School Boost in 2026, providing an annual contribution for every primary school student (Prep to Year 6) to assist families with school-related costs.
The annual contribution is $100 per student in 2026, increasing to $150 per student from 2027, and will be provided over five years, from 2026 to 2030.
Parents and carers can choose how the contribution can be used towards school-related expenses.
For state school students
A credit will be applied to the student’s school account. Parents and carers can choose to use the credit to reduce fees associated with school essentials. This includes school-organised camps, excursions, incursions and extracurricular activities, stationery items purchased from the school, uniforms or excellence programs offered by the school.
For students at non-state schools
The non-state school sector will be responsible for administering the Back to School Boost, including how it can be applied to reduce school fees or other related school costs.
Not a cash payment
Back to School Boost will not be issued as a voucher or given to parents and carers as a cash payment to purchase items outside their child’s school.
Ways to use the Back to School Boost
Parents and carers have the choice on how their Back to School Boost credit is applied.
The funds can be applied to the cost of items or activities offered by the school. For example, school-organised camps, excursions, incursions and extracurricular activities, stationery items purchased from the school, uniforms or excellence programs offered by the school.
Changing schools during the year or graduating Year 6
The Back to School Boost is provided once per year. If a child changes to another Queensland state or non-state school during the year, they will not receive another contribution.
Parents and carers may request a refund of any remaining funds in their child’s account when they leave the school or graduate at the end of Year 6.
State schools will advise parents and carers of any remaining funds on a student’s account as part of the departure process. Please contact your child’s school to request a refund prior to leaving the school.
Non-state schools: decisions regarding refunds for students who leave a non-state school part way through the year, will be made at the discretion of the school. Parents and carers should contact their child’s school directly to discuss refund policies and arrangements.
Special schools
All students in primary school (Prep–Year 6) are eligible for the Back to School Boost, including children who attend a special school.
Schools of distance education
All students in primary school (Prep–Year 6) are eligible for the Back to School Boost, including children who are enrolled in a school of distance education.
Home education
The Back to School Boost is available to children enrolled in home education, in line with current Textbook and resource allowance (TRA) arrangements. Home educating parents and carers receive information from the Department of Education (the department) outlining how they can provide payment details to the department to receive their Back to School Boost.
Moving to Queensland after Term 1 of a school year
Students who enrol in a Queensland state school for the first time after Term 1 of the school year, will be eligible for a pro-rata credit to be applied to their account on the following basis:
2026 – Student joining date | 2027 – Student joining date |
Term 1 - $100 | Term 1 - $150 |
Term 2 - $75 | Term 2 - $115 |
Term 3 - $50 | Term 3 - $75 |
Term 4 - $25 | Term 4 - $40 |
Living in NSW and attending a Queensland school
All students enrolled at and attending a Queensland state or non-state school are eligible for the Back to School Boost. Eligibility is based on the school’s location, not the student’s place of residence.
However, if a family resides in Queensland and their child attends a school in another state, including a boarding school, the student will not be eligible for the payment.
Financial support for secondary school students
All students in Years 7–12 enrolled in a state or non-state school in Queensland are eligible for the Textbook and resource allowance (TRA). This is separate to the Back to School Boost and will continue for all students in Year 7-12. The 2026 TRA rates per student per year are:
- Year 7–10: $164
- Year 11–12: $357
Further information
Talk to your school if you have any questions.
Evidence of how funds are used
State schools are required to provide full transparency on how the Back to School Boost funds have been applied.
Carry-over of unspent funds
Any unspent Back to School Boost funds remain on a student’s account and will carry over to the next year while a child remains at the same state school.
Outstanding debts from before 2026
A state school cannot use the Back to School Boost to offset debts relating to charges for resources used prior to 2026. Debts related to these charges must be managed in accordance with the debt management procedure.