Eligible families can access the equity fund to help pay for education-related expenses, such as books or school supplies. Photo: Facebook / ACT Public Schools.
Families stressed about back-to-school costs now have earlier access to hundreds of dollars to help prepare their children for the first day of term.
The application date of the ACT Government’s Future of Education Equity Fund has been brought forward to January, giving eligible families earlier access to much-needed money.
The fund supports financially disadvantaged families with students from preschool to Year 12 in any ACT school.
Families of preschool students can access $400, $500 is available for primary school students, and $750 is available for high school and college students.
Education Minister Yvette Berry said the application date had been moved following feedback from the community.
“We know that some Canberra families are doing it tough, and we want to ensure all of our students can access items and services that will help them fully engage with their education,” she said.
“The Future of Education Equity Fund can help relieve some of the financial stress experienced by families so that young people don’t miss out on opportunities like school excursions, sporting activities or music lessons.”
Education Minister Yvette Berry helping Caroline Chisholm School student Isla, 8, pick out a uniform for the new school year. Photo: Supplied.
About $2 million is in the fund’s kitty, and about 3000 families accessed it in 2022. This increased to 5000 families in 2023, resulting in almost $3 million being distributed.
“Education can be a real equaliser, but not every child starts in the same place,” Ms Berry said.
“Having an equity fund like this gives those families the chance to have their children starting at the same point as every other child.”
Some new research commissioned by an investment group that sells education bonds and loans has suggested that 13 years of ACT public schooling will cost up to $81,564.
The data collected included both school fees and other costs such as tutoring, electronic devices and transport, and it isn’t clear if it takes into account each government’s support programs.
An Education Directorate spokesperson made it clear that public education in the ACT is free; however, education-related expenses could include activities such as excursions, swimming lessons, camps, school photos, sporting equipment, and extracurricular tuition.
“All ACT public schools are also resourced to help students access everyday essentials. This is part of public education’s important objective of making access to education more equitable for all students, regardless of personal circumstances,” they said.
“Schools can help students access meals, personal hygiene products, hygiene items, school uniform items, book packs and stationery, school excursions, camps, transport and enrichment activities. Free period products are available in all ACT schools.”
Free Wi-Fi internet access is also available for eligible families of public school students without home internet connections.
“Families who are struggling to meet the costs associated with schooling or everyday essentials for their child should talk to their school,” the spokesperson said.
P&C Council executive officer Veronica Elliott also emphasised there were many financial support options available for families accessing public schooling in the ACT.
“It’s important to remember our public schools do offer free education for all of their students, and so parents who are struggling financially don’t necessarily have to pay for their book packs and their Chromebooks for high school, which are provided by the government,” she said.
But as cost-of-living pressures continue to bite, the Canberra Liberals have labelled the announcement a “missed” opportunity to make a real difference.
Leader Elizabeth Lee accused both Labor and the Greens of not taking financial difficulties seriously and not prioritising the crisis.
“We know at, for so many years, ACTCOSS has revealed that there are many Canberrans who are living below the poverty line, including 9000 children,” she said.
“When you’re talking about this latest so-called announcement … it is clear that it is nothing more than a rehashed version of something they’ve had previously.”
Ms Lee argued there were about 82,000 students in Canberra, so supporting 5000 families in 2023 wasn’t enough.
“We know that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting Canberra families hard,” she said.
“We see an unprecedented number of Canberrans who are in that middle bracket doing it tough. We know these are the families who have previously not needed the same support.
“These are the families who are not being helped.”
Applications for the Future of Education Equity Fund for 2024 are open until 29 November.
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