INCREASING numbers of Queensland families are being forced to seek financial assistance to get their children back to school, with the St Vincent de Paul Society already responding to more than 400 requests for help.
The requests have led to 853 students receiving help so far this financial year.
This compares with a total of 593 students helped for the entire 2005 to 2006 year.
And the situation is likely to worsen as interest rates increase and the cost of living in general continues to escalate.
St Vincent de Paul state president John Campbell said increasing numbers of parents were seeking help to support their children at school, particularly at the start of the school year.
“Parents who apply to the Children’s Education Fund typically want help
with school book purchasing or hire, and buying uniforms, shoes,
backpacks, lunchboxes and other school essentials,” Mr Campbell said.
“While costs vary from school to school, the cost of equipping each child
for high school ranges from $500 to $800 for state school enrolments.
“The cost at private schools is higher again.”
With an average cost of more than $200 for clothes, $90 for shoes, $100
on computer or electronic equipment and nearly $75 on school supplies,
the costs added up quickly for parents, Mr Campbell said.
He said the need for financial help with back-to-school expenses was growing each year.
“Not only is the number of people applying for assistance
increasing, but the dollar value of financial help is also growing,” he said.
However, Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director Mike Byrne has indicated that Catholic schools try to keep school fees to a minimum “to remain open and accessible to all who seek their values regardless of socio-economic situation.”
