FAMILIES of children enrolled in public schools are set to receive $400 to help pay for school supplies, uniforms, excursions and more, last Tuesday’s state budget revealed.
Mother of two Cassandra Hogan said she was delighted to hear the news as it would make school more affordable when she sent her second child to Swan Hill North Primary School next year.
“I think it will definitely be helpful as my kids have only just started their schooling,” Ms Hogan said.
“I’m very happy because school uniforms are quite expensive.
“Next year I’m going to have two kids at school so it’s going to be very helpful,”
However, Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited’s executive director Tom Sexton said the budget’s School Saving Bonus being handed out to only public school students was disappointing.
“Our Catholic school families are feeling cost-of-living pressures too, yet only those who are healthcare card holders (about 13 per cent) are eligible for the program,” Mr Sexton said.
“Like government schools, the vast majority of our Catholic school families are in the low- and middle-income brackets.
“They are taxpayers too yet have been excluded from this program.”
Mr Sexton added that DOBCEL was seeking to negotiate with the state government to ensure Catholic school students and their families were supported in the same way.
“Our sector will be seeking to meet with the government urgently to better understand why they are treating families in Catholic schools like second-class citizens,” he said.
“We believe the payment should apply to all students or should be means-tested for all students.
“It should not be based on which school you attend.”
The School Saving Bonus will be available to families by term four this year.
