Hundreds of thousands of Victorian families to share in $400 per child cost-of-living relief for school expenses

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Hundreds of thousands of Victorian families to share in $400 per child cost-of-living relief for school expenses

Hundreds of thousands of Aussie families will share in $280m worth of cost-of-living relief measures, with one state promising up to $400 per schoolchild to help with planning for the next school year.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allen on Monday announced the State Government’s $400 School Saving Bonus was due to be rolled out to some 700,000 families across the state, with the promise of the bonus being “free, automatic and universal”.

But the funding windfall – which will be emailed out to families this week – follows a damning review of Victoria’s education system being tabled in parliament earlier this month.

It included findings that the curriculum was “overcrowded” and there would be an expected teacher shortfall of more than 5000 educators by 2028.

Camera IconUp to 700,000 Victorian families will share in $280m worth of cost of living relief, designed to help schoolkids get ready for the next calendar year. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconA $400 bonus per child will be rolled out to families – to help with the cost of textbooks, uniforms, excursions and other school activities. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar Credit: NewsWire

Speaking about the new funding arrangement on Monday, Ms Allen said parents will be able to choose how they allocate the $400 bonus for their children.

She said it could include a uniform or textbook voucher, or adding money to their children’s school account for camps, excursions or other extra-curricular activities.

The voucher for uniforms and textbooks will be redeemable at local school-approved uniform or book suppliers, 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 $1200 in support.

“Families want the best for their kids. The best education, the right textbook, a fresh uniform, the camps and excursions they’ll remember forever,” Ms Allen said.

She said the bonus was to help kids get a better start to the school year and relieve parents of the cost headaches.

Vouchers be redeemable at school-operated second-hand uniform and textbook shops.

Camera IconVictorian Premier Jacinta Allen said the bonus was a way of getting a better start to the year. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia

Textbook and uniform vouchers will be valid until June 30 next year.

Unspent funds will automatically transfer to a family’s school account once the uniform and textbook voucher ******* expires, with parents able to use the remaining funds on future school activities.

Non-government schools will receive the $400 bonus directly – which will be managed in consultation with the student’s family and in line with the intent of the program.

“With the cost of living is biting, no parent or carer wants to think about their child missing out on the essentials like school uniforms and textbooks, camps, excursions and school sports,” Education Minister Ben Carroll said.

“We’re making life a little bit easier for families by providing a $400 once-off payment from today so that families can begin planning and budgeting for the 2025 school year.”

Camera IconThe funding windfall follows a damning inquiry into Victoria’s state education system, which there could be a massive teacher shortfall by 2028. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia

An inquiry into Victoria’s state education system, tabled on October 15, found NAPLAN reading scores for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 were consistently lower across inner and outer-regional Victoria, compared to major city areas.

Among the multiple recommendations, one included the Department of Education re-evaluating its teacher recruitment intervention programs to address a predicted shortfall by 2028.

A supply shortfall of 5,036 teachers is expected by that year, largely driven by “increasing demand in secondary schools”.The inquiry also recommended a review into school zoning.

“Parents of students in target cohorts or with special needs who sent their children to a state schools noted a ‘postcode lottery’ as to whether their child received adequate support,” the inquiry found.

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