Contributions, Charges & Payments

Charges and Contributions Explained

As a school community we value the financial contribution our families make toward the cost of schooling your children. Proceeds from voluntary contributions, charges and extra cost options enrich our curriculum and improve opportunities available to our students.

It is important that families make every effort to pay the Charges and Voluntary Contributions.

How Charges and Contributions are determined

Students are required to participate in an educational program that satisfies the requirements of the Western Australian Curriculum. Our Principal, in consultation with our School Board, determines the level of contributions and charges requested of parents for the education of your children. Every effort is made to limit the costs and number of items that parents are asked to make payment for or purchase for their child.

We also try and ensure that payment of accounts is affordable by offering various payment options, in many cases accounts can be covered by paying $15 per week to help spread the costs. Support is also available for eligible families with a submission of claims for financial assistance. Please refer to Payment Options for School Accounts or Financial Assistance sections below for further information.

Statement of Accounts

In early December of each year families receive their proposed Charges and Voluntary Contributions for the upcoming year. This is a Department of Education mandatory requirement as it allows families time to review proposed courses of study and costs payable. Statements are posted to families, please ensure address records are kept up to date.

Please find further information below explaining Voluntary Contributions and Charges.

Course Voluntary Contribution

A set voluntary contribution of $235, as mandated by government legislation, is allocated against the core courses of study for students in Years 7 to 10.* This voluntary payment request contributes to the cost of materials, services and facilities used by Year 7-10 students for core subjects.

*Exceptions apply to certain visa categories.

Compulsory Charges

In Year 7 to 10 optional elective subjects incur a compulsory charge due to the nature of the program offered.

Examples of these subjects in Year 7 and 8 include:

  • Specialist Contemporary Music
  • Specialist Marine Studies
  • Academic Extension subjects – Maths, Science, English and HASS
  • Elite Soccer

Examples of these subjects in Year 9 and 10 include the above year 7 and 8 subjects plus some elective subjects such as:

  • Food
  • Materials Design & Technology – Wood
  • Materials Design Technology – Metal
  • Media
  • Outdoor Education
  • Photography
  • Visual Art
  • Product Design

Participation in these components is voluntary, but the charge payable is compulsory if the student opts to participate.

Charges vary per course with information available to families during Subject Selections in the year prior to entering Year 9 and 10. It is appreciated that most parents recognise the high costs that are associated with the delivery of some specialised programs and subjects.  In order for the school to continue to offer these courses parent payment is essential.

Voluntary Approved Requests

Voluntary Approved Requests are voluntary payment requests that we encourage families to consider paying. Funds raised from these items are utlised for various purposes within the school including the Chaplaincy program, supporting P&C funded initiatives, assisting to add resources to the Library and sporting carnivals.

Other Optional Costs

The school Yearbook is an optional cost and appears listed separately on your statement. To order a Yearbook please ensure payment is made against this item by the end of Term 3 each year. If you have organised a payment plan and would like to order a Yearbook, please speak to Finance team to coordinate payment against this item. Yearbooks orders are based off payments made.

Extra Cost Optional Charges

Extra cost optional charges apply to activities or items outside the set $235 voluntary contributions or subject compulsory charges that incur additional charges. These activities or items are designed to supplement your child’s course of study, they however are voluntary, and parents or students can elect to participate.

Participation in these components is voluntary, but a charge is payable if the student opts to participate.

Examples include:

  • Excursions, incursions and camps, competitions, interschool carnivals, external courses/qualifications, and events such as School Ball and Presentation Night.

Personal Items

Items required by students for use during the school year (for example stationery items). Itemised lists for each year group can be found under Resource List.

Charges

All courses of study undertaken in Years 11 and 12 incur compulsory charges. An itemised list of courses available and their associated costs are located in the Senior School Handbook.

Voluntary Approved Requests

Voluntary Approved Requests are voluntary payment requests that we encourage families to consider paying. Funds raised from these items are utlised for various purposes within the school including the Chaplaincy program, supporting P&C funded initiatives, assisting to add resources to the Library and sporting carnivals.

Other Optional Costs

The school Yearbook is an optional cost and appears listed separately on your statement. To order a Yearbook please ensure payment is made against this item by the end of Term 3 each year. If you have organised a payment plan and would like to order a Yearbook, please speak to Finance team to coordinate payment against this item. Yearbooks orders are based off payments made.

Extra Cost Optional Charges

Extra cost optional charges apply to activities or items outside the set $235 voluntary contributions or subject compulsory charges that incur additional charges. These activities or items are designed to supplement your child’s course of study, they however are voluntary, and parents or students can elect to participate.

Participation in these components is voluntary, but a charge is payable if the student opts to participate.

Examples include :

  • Excursions, incursions and camps, competitions, interschool carnivals, external courses/qualifications, and events such as School Ball and Presentation Night.

Personal Items

Items required by students for use during the school year (for example stationery items). Itemised lists for each year group can be found under Resource List.

The school has a number of strategies to assist families to meet the costs of educational programs and has a variety of payment options available.

Payment Plans

Payment plans are available and can be adapted to suit individual needs including the amount, frequency and duration. If you would like to discuss how this option could assist you meet payment requirements or if you require assistance to work out the optimal plan please call our Finance team on 6206 2700. Alternatively the form can be found below and the completed form can be emailed through to OceanReef.SHS.Finance@education.wa.edu.au

Please do not hesitate to contact the school on 6206 2700 to discuss alternative payment methods or if you would prefer to set up a payment plan over the phone.

Other Payment Options:

BPOINT

Credit card payment.

Direct Deposit

Commonwealth Bank

BSB: 066160
Acc #: 00900988
Name: Ocean Reef Senior High School
Reference: Please use Student’s Name and reason (e.g. Contributions)

Eftpos

Payment can be made by telephone or in person at Reception in the Administration building.

Compass Payments for Excursions and Events

Our school uses the Compass system that allows parents to provide consent for their child to attend school events using an online platform. Parents can update contact information (phone and email), review medical information and pay for the event at the time of giving consent.

An easy access link to the Compass portal is provided in the Parent Portal. Parent username and password is required. Please contact the school office if more information is required on (08) 6206 2700.

Additional Information

If a student is enrolled for only a proportion of the school year, or changes subjects, Charges and Contributions are adjusted accordingly. A refund will be calculated upon receiving a transfer note from the new school or with approval from the Department of Education. Please note that if a student leaves the school at any time, a clearance form must be completed.

Please note, our current receipting system, which is supported by the DoE, is limited to having only one person listed as the nominated fees biller. The nominated fees biller is the person responsible for coordinating payments.

Please ensure your email address, phone number and postal address is kept up to date on our records as this is important for communication.

Secondary Assistance in the form of financial subsidies is available to holders of

  • Health Care and Pensioner Benefit cards or
  • Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Card

who meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications for secondary assistance can be made in person at the school by the cardholder or via email (please include a copy of your card.)

Details of the Financial Assistance provided

The Education Program Allowance ($235) is paid directly to the school and applied to Voluntary Contributions for Years 7-10. For eligible students in Years 11 and 12, the Education Program Allowance will be applied directly to compulsory charges.

Application Form

Application forms are to be completed and returned to the school with supporting documentation.

2024 Applications close 28 March 2024.

Processing of Secondary Assistance Payments

Once the form is completed by the parent/guardian, the school will forward it to the Schools Resourcing Branch for processing in Term 1, 2024.

Authority for financial management has been devolved to provide schools with more control over the resources available to them. This enables schools like Ocean Reef SHS to make maximum use of financial resources when planning for their desired educational outcomes.

As school funds are public monies, the management of these funds is subject to the requirements of the Financial Management Act (2006) which requires schools to be publicly accountable for the budget, planning and allocation of those funds.

The Principal must:

  • form a Finance Committee in conjunction with the School Board to assist in financial planning and control.
  • ensure staff and community representatives are invited to participate in the financial planning and management process.
  • ensure decisions are made on a participative and democratic basis.
  • ensure decisions do not contravene departmental or government policy or procedure.

The budget must be:

  • formulated annually in accordance with the objectives and priorities specified in the school Business Plan.
  • submitted to the School Board for endorsement and inclusion in the school Business Plan.
  • reviewed and revised periodically to prevent cost over-run.

The School Board approves major revisions to the budget, which may impact on the original programs and priorities.

The Finance Committee endorses all other changes to the budget.

If you require clarification about these procedures you can contact the school on (08) 6206 2700.

Payment of Contributions and Charges via credit card can be made online via BPOINT.

BPOINT can be accessed easily via the QUICK LINKS menu, which can be found in menu headings across the top of this page.

Alternatively, please click on here to be taken directly to the payment page.