Making Rottnest Island more accessible for all WA school children

• Overnight school camps on Rottnest Island subsidy opens for third year
• Initiative makes overnight school camps on the island more affordable for school students
• Families can save more than $150 per child for a three-night camp in targeted cost-of-living relief
• Schools from across Western Australia encouraged to apply with applications for the 2026 program open today

Students from schools in lower‑income communities will once again have the opportunity to apply to the Cook Government's overnight school camp subsidy program to travel to Rottnest Island in 2026.

Now in its third year, the initiative provides equitable access to Rottnest Island for Western Australian school students.

The initiative means families save more than $150 per child for a three-night camp.

Eligible schools in low-income areas can receive up to 100 per cent subsidy for an overnight camp during Term 3, 2026.

The subsidy applies to accommodation fees, bike hire from Pedal & Flipper Hire, and educational tours delivered by Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association.

The subsidies are in addition to those available to all school groups throughout the year, which includes a 40 per cent accommodation discount for school group bookings, discounted rates on bike hire, and waiving of the island admission fee.

The overnight school camp subsidy has seen students travel from across Perth, and regional areas including the Wheatbelt, Mid West, Gascoyne, Goldfields-Esperance, and Great Southern for up to three nights.

Applications for the 2026 Rottnest Island Overnight School Camp Subsidy open today at rottnestisland.com/campsubsidy

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:

"Rottnest Island is iconically Western Australian, and I'm pleased that school students from across the State will have the opportunity to experience a school camp on the island.

"Families with students participating in the program are saving more than $150 for a three-night camp.

"The Cook Government is proud to be able to offer the program again in 2026 and is just another way we're providing targeted cost-of-living relief for WA families."

Comments attributed to Education Minister Sabine Winton:

"School camps on Rottnest Island give students the opportunity to build new friendships, experience different environments, and create lasting memories.

"The island offers so many opportunities to learn about the natural environment, our cultural history, as well as our military and maritime heritage.

"This initiative makes overnight camps more affordable, and I encourage eligible schools to apply for this unique opportunity in 2026."

Comments attributed to Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:

"Rottnest Island is one of Western Australia's favourite holiday spots enjoyed every year by hundreds of thousands of locals as well as interstate and international visitors.

"The island is set up for school camps, with a range of accommodation options and opportunities for school children to learn about the island's history."