Hundreds of thousands of Australian families will share $280 million in cost-of-living relief measures, with one state pledging up to $400 per student to help with planning for the next school year.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen announced on Monday that the state government’s $400 school savings voucher would be extended to around 700,000 families across the state, with a promise that the voucher would be “free, automatic and universal.” .
But the windfall, which will be emailed to families this week, comes after a damning review of Victoria’s education system was tabled in parliament earlier this month.
It included findings that the curriculum was “oversaturated” and that a teacher shortfall of more than 5,000 educators was expected by 2028.
Speaking about the new funding agreement on Monday, Allen said parents will be able to choose how to allocate the $400 bonus to their children.
She said it could include a voucher for uniform or textbooks, or adding money to your children’s school account for camps, excursions or other extracurricular activities.
The uniform and textbook voucher can be redeemed at local school-approved book or uniform vendors, while funds allocated to activities will be credited to the family’s school account.
Families with multiple children will receive a bonus for each child, meaning a family of three can pocket up to $1,200 in support.
Hundreds of thousands of Australian families will share $280 million in cost-of-living support measures, with one state pledging up to $400 per student to help with planning for the next school year (file image)
‘Families want the best for their children. The best education, the right textbook, a new uniform, the camps and excursions they will remember forever,” said Mrs Allen.
He said the bonus was to help children get off to a better start to the school year and relieve parents of cost headaches.
Vouchers can be redeemed at second-hand textbook and uniform stores operated by the school.
The vouchers for textbooks and uniforms will be valid until June 30 of next year.
Unspent funds will automatically be transferred to the family’s school account once the uniform and textbook voucher period expires, and parents will be able to use the remaining funds on future school activities.
Non-government schools will receive the $400 bonus directly, which will be administered in consultation with the student’s family and in accordance with the intent of the program.
“With the cost of living, no parent or caregiver wants to think that their child will miss out on essentials like school uniforms and textbooks, camps, excursions and school sports,” Education Minister Ben Carroll said.
“We’re making life a little easier for families by providing a one-time payment of $400 starting today so families can start planning and budgeting for the 2025 school year.”
An inquiry into Victoria’s state education system, launched on 15 October, found that NAPLAN reading scores for students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 were consistently lower in inner and outer Victoria, compared to the main areas of the city.
Among the multiple recommendations, one included that the Department of Education reevaluate its teacher recruitment intervention programs to address a projected shortfall by 2028.
A supply shortfall of 5,036 teachers is expected for that year, driven largely by “growing demand in secondary schools.” The investigation also recommended a review of school zoning.
“Parents of students in targeted cohorts or with special needs who sent their children to public schools observed a ‘zip code lottery’ to determine whether their children were receiving appropriate support,” the research concluded.