General News
21 August, 2024
No bonus for local families
Hundreds of local families are missing out on the opportunity to offset the rising cost of living simply by choosing to enrol their children in the wrong school.
In the 2024/25 state budget, a $400 School Saving Bonus, aimed to “give families of school kids one less thing to worry about”, was announced, and will be automatically applied to every Victorian student at a government school during Term 4.
But no equal opportunity has been offered to students of low-cost, non-government schools such as St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Hopetoun.
The families of these children must meet eligibility criteria similar to the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund.
Principal Cynthia Maiden said she believes families should receive equal treatment regardless of which school they attend.
“The majority of our families are in the low and middle-income brackets, and are feeling cost of living pressures too,” Ms Maiden said.
“This $400 payment should apply to all students and families, or it should be means-tested.
“We have contacted our state government representatives to better understand why our families have been excluded from this program and ask that they consider a fairer policy.”
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said the system was not fair.
“More than 50 per cent of students come from disadvantaged families in many regional low-fee Catholic schools,” she said.
“Yet under the current scheme, only a small percentage of these students will be eligible for the $400 bonus.
“It is terrible to exclude these hardworking families in regional Victoria based on their choice of school for their children.”
A recent media release from the state government acknowledged the role non-government schools played in Victorian education as it announced $243 million would be shared across 65 of Victoria’s Catholic schools, including two of the Wimmera/Mallee’s nine non-government schools.
“Non-government schools are an important part of Victoria’s education system,” it reads.
“More than one-third of Victorian students study at Catholic or independent school.”