At North Shore Tutors, our advertised rates start from $75 per hour plus GST. With 10% GST, that starting rate is $82.50 for one hour. The price for your child's proposed sessions should be confirmed before you begin, including the tutor, subject, delivery format and lesson length.
That figure is an NST starting price, rather than a market-wide average for Sydney's North Shore. Providers offer different services and quote fees in different ways. A useful comparison begins with the total amount you would pay for the support your child needs.
Turn the hourly price into a family budget
A weekly rate is easier to assess when you calculate a realistic block of lessons. Using the $82.50 GST-inclusive starting rate as an example:
Four one-hour lessons would total $330.
Ten one-hour lessons would total $825.
Twenty one-hour lessons would total $1,650.
These are arithmetic examples at the advertised starting rate, with no additional charges included. They are not package offers or a quote for a particular tutor. Actual costs depend on the sessions you book and the rate agreed for them.
Decide how much you can comfortably allocate before choosing lesson frequency. Include any holiday sessions or extra assessment preparation you are considering. A sustainable plan leaves room for the rest of family life.
Check what the quoted price covers
Ask for the complete lesson price, including GST where applicable. The Moneysmart GST calculator explains how to add 10% GST to an exclusive price; for your booking, use the provider's actual GST-inclusive quote.
Clarify whether resources, preparation, feedback on written work or travel are included. A provider may organise these differently, so avoid assuming that two identical hourly prices buy identical services.
Lesson duration also matters. A quoted session might be 45, 60 or 90 minutes. Compare the total fee and the amount of teaching time, then consider whether that length suits your child's concentration and the work being covered.
Ask separately about online and in-person sessions
Online and in-person lessons can have different practical requirements. Ask for the current rate for the format you actually want. The starting price on a website may not establish a separate fee for every format, subject or tutor.
For online tutoring, check that your child has a reliable connection and can show their working clearly. For in-person lessons, consider travel, a suitable workspace and how the appointment fits around school and activities. These details affect whether the arrangement is manageable even when the lesson fee is within budget.
Understand cancellations and ongoing commitments
Before starting, check when payment is due and what happens if your child is ill, away on camp or unable to attend. Ask how much notice is required, whether a late cancellation is charged and how rescheduling works.
NST's current website states that there is no long-term contract and that at least 24 hours' notice is required to cancel without charge. Confirm the applicable arrangements when booking so both you and your tutor know what to expect.
Keep the policy somewhere easy to find. A reminder the day before the cancellation deadline can be useful during busy school weeks, especially if sports fixtures or family commitments change.
Decide how you will judge value
Set a specific learning goal before increasing the number of lessons. 'Become more confident in maths' is a useful starting concern; 'explain and solve fraction problems independently' is easier to review.
Ask the tutor what they will check first and what progress might look like in the student's work. Keep an example from the beginning, then compare it with a similar task after several lessons. Look at whether the student needs fewer prompts, explains their approach more clearly or applies feedback accurately.
The most expensive option is not automatically the right match. Equally, a low session price provides little value if the content does not address the difficulty. Teaching quality, fit and a workable routine belong in the decision alongside cost.
Request a quote for your child's needs
Prepare the year level, subject, preferred format, suburb or online preference, availability and main learning goal. If you have a recent task showing the problem, use it to explain the support you are seeking.
You can read about our private tutoring service and contact North Shore Tutors for the current session rate. Ask for the GST-inclusive total and cancellation arrangements together. That gives you a clear basis for deciding whether the proposed tutoring fits your child and your budget.
