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The Smith Family Pulse Survey 2024

Families hit hard by rising cost of living and increased school expenses, according to latest Pulse survey.

The ongoing pressure of cost-of-living increases have again made it difficult for families to support their children’s education. 

For the third year in a row, around three in five families experiencing disadvantage said they found it hard or very hard to afford all the things their children need for school in 2024.

The findings are revealed in the latest Smith Family Pulse Survey, a national survey of more than 2,400 parents and carers whose children are supported by The Smith Family. They were asked questions about their children’s experience of school during the year and how they had coped.

This is the fifth Pulse survey to be carried out by The Smith Family. The first survey presented the perspective of The Smith Family’s frontline team members; all the following surveys spoke to the families who are supported through The Smith Family. The survey is repeated annually to provide a snapshot of families’ changing circumstances and hear directly from parents and carers about issues affecting their children’s education.

 
Girl looking at camera smiling while writing on white board

KEY FINDINGS:

  • 59% of respondents said they found it hard or very hard to afford all the things their children needed for school in 2024. 

  • 55.6% of respondents said the increased cost of everyday expenses such as groceries, petrol and rent made it harder to afford school items. 

  • 28.5% of respondents said they were spending more because they needed to buy more things for their children’s education.

  • 27.3% said they were buying the same educational items as last year but that they were now more expensive.

  • Nearly four in ten parents and carers said school had been hard or very hard for their children in 2024. The main reasons cited for this were struggles with schoolwork, financial pressures, and health and mental health issues.

COST OF LIVING INCREASES MADE IT HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO MEET SCHOOL COSTS IN 2024

A significant portion of parents said they struggled to afford school-related expenses for their children this year. Nearly three in five respondents (59.0%) found it challenging to cover these costs this year. 
The struggle to meet educational costs was largely attributed (55.6%) to the rising cost of living, including expenses like groceries, rent, energy, and petrol. More than half of respondents (55.8%) reported that increased school expenses, either due to higher prices (27.3%) or the need for more items (28.5%), made it harder for them to afford necessary supplies.
[Money from The Smith Family] helped me get their schoolbooks and some clothes.  But also, food for school.  I've been really struggling to be able to not only get my children to school but to have enough in their lunch.
Parent/Carer
With the money from the Learning for Life scholarship] I can buy my kids uniforms, books, pay [for] excursions that they weren't able to participate in before because it was expensive ... Because of this I am able to lift a load off my shoulders and have a little room to breathe and focus on my children's progress in school and grades and all those important things instead of only thinking about the expenses when it comes to schooling.
Parent/Carer

MORE CHILDREN FOUND SCHOOL HARDER IN 2024

Nearly two in five respondents (38%) reported that school has been hard or very hard for their children this year. This was an increase from 2023, when 34.5% of families said that school had been hard or very hard.
The difficulties at school were caused by a variety of factors, but mostly related to struggling with schoolwork (20.6%), dealing with financial pressures (17.9%), and coping with mental health or other health issues (17.8%).

CELBRATING PROGRESS

Despite the difficulties, families found plenty to be proud of in what their children were able to achieve at school during 2024.
The biggest sources of pride related to the progress (36.5% of the themes cited) and effort (25.7%) of their children at school. Attendance and attitude (16.6%) and personal attributes (11.3%) were also significant responses. 
My most proud moment is seeing my children improve in learning and be happy to go to school in a fresh uniform and good pair of shoes
Parent/Carer
My children have learning difficulties and all three have made such a positive change to their learning
Parent/Carer
When he started Grade 7, he was only working at a Grade 3-4 level, but now in Grade 10 he is working at a Grade 9 level in most subjects. He is struggling but he's really trying and I am incredibly proud of him.
Parent/Carer
They have been so content and have tried so hard to do good in school despite our financial difficulties at home.
Parent/Carer
boy reading with his mum on lounge

MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS SURVEY

The Smith Family Pulse Survey is an annual survey of parents and carers about how their children are faring at school and any issues affecting their children’s education. The survey is open to parents whose children are currently supported through our Learning for Life education support program, which provides emotional, practical and financial support to young Australians experiencing disadvantage. This survey was conducted between 7-21 August 2024 and there were 2,454 respondents.