Regional parents pocket up to $500 to help cover travel cost for Senior High School Country Week

Regional parents will be able to pocket up to $500 to help cover the travel cost for their kids to compete in Country Week, which kicked off on Monday.

More than 4000 students from 56 regional high schools have descended on Perth this week to compete in 10 sports including AFL, soccer, netball, basketball, hockey and dance.

The epic competition — which will be held for the 95th year and is a highlight of the calendar for country kids — will run from Monday to Friday.

Education Minister Sabine Winton said families living more than 300km away from Perth would receive a $500 subsidy to help cover the cost of travel and accommodation as part of Labor’s $8 million Country Week Assistance Program.

Those living within 300km of Perth will see costs slashed by up to $250.

“It’s a significant saving,” Ms Winton said.

“The cost will vary from school to school, not just because of the distance that schools travel, but also about the itinerary that the schools arrange.

“Each school manages their Country Week payments differently; some parents will receive a subsidy from their school for the eligible amount and pay the difference.

“Others will pay up front and be reimbursed by the school the following week.”

School Sports WA president Peter Rickers said without the subsidy, Country Week was expensive for most families.

“We know for sure that there are some schools who are here in entirety because of the assistance program,” he said.

“There are set costs that would involve uniform, accommodation, food ... transport, and some of those things will vary depending on the distance they come.

“You are certainly talking about many hundreds, if not the low thousands (of dollars).”

With a rainy week expected, Ms Winton said Country Week was “phenomenally popular” and said the student athletes would compete no matter the weather.

“Having been a regional teacher in Western Australia myself, I know that kids from the bush love their sport,” she said.

“They’re pretty good at it and I reckon they’ll play hail rain or shine.”