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Survey shows nine out of ten families worried they won't be able to afford back to school essentials

Media releases

17 January 2024

As students head into the new school year, thousands of Australian children are at risk of missing out on essential items for learning, including digital devices, internet access, and uniforms and shoes, according to national children’s education charity, The Smith Family.

An annual survey of over 2,200 families supported by the charity found that:

Nearly nine out of ten respondents (88.3%) are worried to some degree about being able to afford all the things their children will need for school in 2024. Of these, three in ten (30%) are very worried and three in ten (31.7%) are somewhat worried.
Around half of the survey respondents (51.2%) think their children are likely to miss out on the digital devices needed for their schoolwork because they won’t be able to afford them. One in six (16.6%) think their children will miss out on internet access for schoolwork.
Nearly half (45.6%) think their children will miss out on uniforms or shoes for school.
Four in ten (40.6%) think their children will miss out on educational activities outside of school.
One in three (32%) think their children will miss out on school excursions.

This is the second consecutive year that the survey has found concerns about affordability of school items (87.1% in 2023). CEO of The Smith Family, Doug Taylor, said it’s reflective of the impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

“The families we support make impossible decisions every day about how to prioritise the limited resources they have. Housing, food, and power are top of the list, but the cost of these essentials have all risen rapidly, meaning educational essentials like uniforms, books, a laptop and the internet are increasingly hard to afford.”

Doug Taylor said one of the most concerning findings is that half the respondents said their children are likely to miss out on digital devices.

“Laptops and the internet are as essential as pens and paper in the 21st century classroom. Without them, students will struggle to do their schoolwork and keep up with their peers. Every Australian would agree that all children should have the same opportunities as their peers at school, so they can achieve their potential.”

The cost of living was a major theme in the survey, with respondents saying price increases are putting pressure on their ability to pay for their child’s school essentials.

Of the respondents, 45.6% said they feared their children were likely to miss out on basics like uniforms and shoes, up from 29.7% in 2023.

One respondent said that “Everything has gone up with the cost of living. It has been difficult trying to juggle transport to and from school and other commitments he [my son] has. As an aspiring athlete, his schedule has been a lot to manage both physically and financially as a single parent.”

Another said their hope for the new school year was for their child to have “All the material they would require, and to not have to worry about money.”

To help meet this growing need, The Smith Family is launching its Back to School Appeal, calling on Australians to sponsor a child to help them thrive at school and beyond. The charity wants to find 6,700 new sponsors for its Learning for Life education support program, which provides financial, emotional and practical support for students experiencing disadvantage. This support lasts for a child’s entire educational journey.

The Smith Family has also committed to growing the program, and ensuring every student has all their school essentials, including a device and internet access by 2027.

“We are aiming to grow the reach of our sponsorship program from 62,000 to 100,000 by 2027, so even more of the one in six young Australians living below the poverty line today can receive this support and be empowered to engage in their education – however we can only do this with help from the Australian community.”

Doug Taylor said sponsorship isn’t just about financial and practical support, but about helping children feel like they are important and belong.

“Learning for Life, which is enabled by generous Australians, is a game changer; it means that every child we help can access what they need to make the most of their education. Things like a new school uniform and laptop can make children feel like they are a part of a school, so does the ability to take part in school excursions, sporting teams, or take music lessons – all of which increases a child’s confidence and self-belief.”

“Our research shows that 85% of students on our support program who were in Year 12 in 2020 were in education, employment, or training two and a half years after leaving school, so we know our program has a long-term positive impact.”

Students on the Learning for Life program also have access to a range of proven numeracy, reading, digital literacy and mentoring programs, so they can build essential skills while also helping to increase their aspirations and reach their potential.

“The long-term support we provide is so important. Research shows that children who start school behind are, on average, four years behind in maths and more than five years behind in reading by the time they reach Year 9. Our support starts early and lasts until that child has finished their education. This gives them the tools and resources they need to keep up with their peers, complete their education and go on to further study or work,” Mr Taylor said.

Community support also comes from our much-valued partners, including Officeworks. Officeworks has made significant contributions to help students experiencing disadvantage, raising more than $8 million over the last 11 years.

“Thank you to all our sponsors and partners who get behind the students we help and make our work possible. Their help means more young people can get vital education support, unlocking their potential and enabling them to have better futures,” Mr Taylor said.

How sponsorship works

The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program is an innovative, evidence-based education support program shown to improve learning outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage. Children referred to the program via nearly 800 partner schools across Australia can be sponsored from their first year of primary school right through to completing tertiary study.

Sponsorship starts from $55 per month for a child in primary school and provides:

financial assistance for education essentials, including uniforms, shoes, books and school supplies
tailored personal support from a dedicated Smith Family team member for the duration of a child’s educational journey
access to extra out-of-school learning and mentoring programs

To support The Smith Family’s Back to School Appeal, visit link here.

For the full survey results, click here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Smith Family Pulse Survey is an annual survey of parents and carers, gathering insights about how their children are faring at school and any issues affecting their children’s education. The survey is open to parents and carers whose children are currently supported through the charity’s Learning for Life education support program, which provides emotional, practical and financial support to young Australians experiencing disadvantage. This survey was conducted between September 6-20, 2023 with 2,284 respondents.

Back to School and Officeworks partnership

Until 11 February, Australians can also donate at any Officeworks store or online to provide educational support to students who need it most through the Officeworks Back to School Appeal. With this support from Officeworks, The Smith Family is empowering more young people to create brighter futures for themselves.

Media Enquiries: Caitlin Dickson | Senior Media Advisor | 0466 955 633 | Caitlin.Dickson@thesmithfamily.com.au

Media contacts:

Andrew Dickson | National Media Manager (National) - 0421 285 529 | andrew.dickson@thesmithfamily.com.au
Carla Horton | Senior Media Advisor (QLD & WA) - 0423 618 776 | carla.horton@thesmithfamily.com.au
Reid Jermyn | Media Advisor (VIC, SA & NT) - 0412 803 566 | reid.jermyn@thesmithfamily.com.au
Ben Chenoweth | Senior Media Advisor (NSW, ACT & TAS) - 0413 346 934 | ben.chenoweth@thesmithfamily.com.au

The Smith Family is a national children’s education charity that helps young Australians experiencing disadvantage to create better futures for themselves through harnessing the power of education. We partner with around 800 Australian schools and work with over 162,000 children and young people experiencing disadvantage access our education support programs to help them overcome . For more information, visit thesmithfamily.com.au