The Department for Education is to support families ahead of the return to school with a range of relief measures designed to help with cost-of-living pressures.
Announced by the Government, the project will assist all families with children at government schools required to pay for the materials and services charge by benefitting them to receive a $100 per child discount in 2023.
Other initiatives include waiving school fees for Ukrainian refugees and Afghan evacuees in 2023 and providing internet access for families who do not have access to the internet at home.
Additionally, free school bus services are to be available for students in rural areas who live more than five kilometres from their nearest public school and funding for preschool and school breakfast programs.
State Premier, Peter Malinauskas, said the measures would provide a practical way to relieve parents of some of their financial pressures.
“We’re pleased to able to step in and provide help to families, some of whom we know are doing it tough at the moment, as costs rise across the board,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Welcoming the arrangements, the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer said going back to school can be a difficult time sometimes for families.
“We hope these costs of living initiatives will bring some reprieve for families so the focus can be on helping children settle into their new classrooms for 2023,” Mr Boyer said.
“A good education is a key to every child’s future – regardless of their ability or circumstances – and the assistance we’re providing across a range of programs will hopefully make it easier for families with school-age children,” he said
Applications are also now open for the 2023 school card, with families encouraged to apply at https://sa.gov.au/education/schoolcard.
