Frequently Asked Questions
The program is available to Western Australian government schools as categorised by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.
- To be eligible to apply for funding, applicants must:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN);
- Be registered for the purposes of GST;
- Be located in Western Australia; and,
- Be a Western Australian government school as categorised by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.
Applicants must address the assessment criterion in the application. Assessment of the application will be assessed on this criteria.
Criterion 1
Identify that your ICSEA percentile is between zero (0) and sixty (60) utilising the ACARA 2025 database.
To be considered for funding through this program, applicants need to complete and submit an application. This will require completing a standard form online.
The completed application can be submitted from 10 am (AWST) on Monday 2 February to 5 pm (AWST) on Monday 23 February 2026. Applications received after this date and time will not be eligible for consideration.
Eligible schools must complete all fields of the application form.
Applications will be assessed in order of ICSEA percentile from lowest to highest, further priority will be given to applicants where the largest number of schools / students are able to be accommodated due to available dates of travel, and schools that have not yet received a subsidy.
Rottnest Island Authority will evaluate applications for eligibility and meeting the criterion.
Assessment of applications will take place from Tuesday 24 February 2026. Applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of the assessment week commencing Tuesday 3 March 2026.
The funding can be used for overnight accommodation:
- Maximum stay of three consecutive nights;
- Monday to Thursday nights inclusive;
- Kingstown Barracks Dormitories, Hostel and Governor Circle accommodation only; and,
- For stay period Term 3 2026, Monday 20 July 2026 to Thursday 24 September 2026 inclusive.
The funding can be used for bike hire:
- The subsidy applies for standard pedal bikes (adult and child sizes) and accessible fleet only.
The funding can be used for one Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association educational tour. There is a choice of three:
- Pioneers and Prisoners
- Reefs, Wrecks and Daring Sailors
- Wadjemup Museum
The funding can be used for cultural safety services.
The funding cannot be used for the following:
- Meal costs
- Personal luggage or bike transfers
- Bus transportation
The minimum group booking size is six persons.
The maximum group booking size is 50 persons including adults.
Up to two applications per eligible school will be accepted.
This subsidy only applies to mid-week stay dates within Term 3 2026, Monday 20 July 2026 to Thursday 24 September 2026 inclusive.
In recognition of Rottnest Island’s historical use as a place of incarceration for Aboriginal people, Rottnest Island Authority will make available cultural safety services to schools with Aboriginal students and/or staff, free of charge.
