Families with children attending Victorian state schools are set to receive a one-off $400 payment per student to assist with school expenses.
This announcement came as part of the upcoming state budget, aiming to alleviate the financial strain on households.
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Concession card holders with children in non-government schools will also be eligible to receive this payment.
In Victoria, over 700,000 students’ parents will be eligible for this support, amounting to a total expenditure of $287 million.
The payment will be provided as credit for educational expenses such as uniforms, school camps, sports programs, and excursions.
However, it cannot be used for school fees or household expenses.
Premier Jacinta Allan announced that this assistance is intended for students starting school in the 2025 academic year, with the government planning to deliver support to families during term 4 of this year.
“Parents are already planning for the 2025 school year, and we’re wanting to provide them with some support, recognising that the cost of living pressures has seen so much of what we need go up in price,” she said.
“This will be revealed as a budget that is making the sensible and disciplined decisions that are about recognising the challenges we are faced with, not just here in Victoria but around the country as well,” she added.
The premier declined to disclose further details about Tuesday’s budget but reiterated previous indications that it would not involve significant expenditure.
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