School Card Scheme
The School Card Scheme provides financial assistance towards the educational expenses incurred by families who meet the eligibility criteria of having a child or children from 4 years of age attending school full time, independent full time students undertaking 6 subjects in years 10 or 11, or 5 subjects in year 12. Adult re-entry students, that meet the criteria, are also eligible. Full-time students of low income families who are in financial need may be eligible to receive assistance to enable them to pay school fees, obtain books and materials and attend camps and excursions. Procedures and forms are available at the website HERE.

Australian Banking Reforms
From 1 January 2012 credit providers will need to give you a key facts sheet on home loans, if you ask for one. Key facts sheets will give you the information you need in a set format so it is easier for you to shop around and compare loans. They will also highlight important information such as the total amount to be paid back over the life of the loan. Read more here.

Shops obliged to give sale refunds
The consumer watchdog has crushed a long-held urban myth, declaring retailers must refund and exchange faulty items bought on sale. Consumers have the same rights to a refund or exchange on defective or imperfect sale items as they do on full-priced products. And, according to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Graeme Samuel, they always have. Read more here and here.

Teach Parents Tech
Do you have parents who are not tech-savvy? They don't know how to copy and paste? How to make a blog? How to share videos? Or even find a pizza restaurant near you? With Teach Parents Tech you can send them a Tech Support Care Package. Teach Parents Tech is a site that allows you to select any number of simple tech support videos to send to mom, dad or the grandparents. The site was designed by some folks at Google to help keep tech support a family business. Send a tech support care package to mom and dad. Teach Parents Tech.

Children and the Internet
Most modern consoles offer the ability to restrict kids to only playing games of a certain rating or for a given length of time, but parents often don't know how to set them up. A series of videos from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association shows how to do that. You can see guides for the PS3, Xbox, Wii and PC's here.

Salisbury Hard Waste Collection Service
Residents of the suburbs listed below must book now by calling
1800 111 004 for a collection in January.

• Ingle Farm
• Para Hills
• Salisbury Downs
• Salisbury Park

NO COLLECTION WILL TAKE PLACE WITHOUT A PRIOR BOOKING
These bookings will incur a $10 resident contribution

Bookings 2 – 4 weeks prior to collection are essential

Once a booking has been made, a letter of confirmation will be posted to confirm the collection date. More information is available HERE.