THIS week marked a return to school for Victorian students (and next week across the river in New South Wales) and charity groups are raising the alarm over the spike in young families burdened by the cost of getting their kids back to school.
Amid the children’s excitement of seeing friends again, the cost of stationery orders, the upsizing of the school uniform/s and/or shoes – or all the above! – are causing parents to worry about the rising cost of education.
The Albanese government’s failure to address the cost-of-living crisis is leaving too many Australian families unable to afford basic school supplies, uniforms or digital devices.
For back-to-school and other costs including tuition fees, this year parents will be forced to pay on average $5043 for secondary students and $2671 for primary students, with almost one in three parents unable to afford back-to-school expenses.
Under Labor, education costs have risen an alarming 11 per cent and parents are being forced to make impossible choices.
The Smith Family’s recent Pulse survey paints a grim picture, with 87 per cent of parents worried about affording back-to-school costs.
Not-for-profit group State Schools Relief said earlier this month that they received 40 per cent more requests for financial help in November and December than they did the previous year.
The findings reveal more than half of parents fear their children will miss out on essential digital devices, and nearly 60 per cent said 2024 was harder than ever to cover school costs due to skyrocketing everyday expenses like groceries, rent and petrol.
A survey by iselect.com.au revealed Victoria has the highest average 2025 school-related expenses in the nation at $18,700, well ahead of the national average of $15,000. iSelect’s figures included the broader cost base of school uniforms, textbooks, laptops, stationery, lunches, transport, school excursions and more.
One-off relief for school costs from the state Labor government, just like the federal Labor government’s one-off year of power bill relief, demonstrates they can’t manage an economy to get Australia back on track and help our children reach their best potential.
