457 visa and international school fees

[cliffy]

I  have just found out (belatedly) that new 457 visa holders in SA have had to pay international school fees since Jan 2017.

Does anyone know if a child of a 457 visa holder is enrolled in a private school, whether this fee has still to be paid, or are they exempt as they are not an impost on the State govt. Have checked the Decs site and couldn't find this out.

[snifter]

Afaik you'll pay the private school fees. The fees on the 457 are for state schools only that I am aware of. You can find some private schools with fees around the same ballpark at primary level but many could probably be more (plus costs of uniform etc being much higher). And high school fees, again, some will be at the lower end but I'd expect high school to cost way more if paying private, at least for one of the more in demand ones or older established schools. My hubby's old high school, fees are over $20,000 a year now I think. 

 

Proposed public education contribution fee for 457 visa holders

The state government is introducing a fee for families on 457 visas whose children attend public schools in South Australia. These proposed changes would bring South Australia in line with some other Australian states and territories and how they manage contributions towards public education.

Proposed changes From January 2017, newly arriving 457 visa holders will be required to contribute to the cost of educating their children in government schools. This requirement will then extend to all 457 visa holders from 1 January 2018. The amount payable would be based on family circumstances and payment would be made when a child or young person is enrolled in a government school. Students would continue to be allowed to enrol in their local schools (subject to availability).

Contribution fees
The annual contribution payable by a family in South Australia on a 457 visa for 2017 would be:  $5,100 for each primary school student  $6,100 for each high school student This amount would be charged for the eldest child in a family, with the fees for all siblings attracting a 10% discount. The proposed changes would allow parents to elect to pay the contribution:  upfront annually  per semester  per term, or  in regular instalments.

https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/schoolfees_457visa.pdf