PARENTS FEELING THE PINCH
THOUSANDS of Tasmanian parents are anxious about putting money together ahead of sending their children back to school this year.
A survey by The Smith Family of almost 2000 Australian families found nine in 10 parents and carers were worried about affording all the things their children will need for school this year.
“I’m anxious, I’ve been scrounging around trying to find cheap alternatives to the normal school uniform,” Equity advocate and single mum pensioner Kate Kelly said.
“Stress building about how you’re going to afford that big chunk of money – about $300 – just for the basic kit, and that doesn’t include shoes, lunch boxes, hats, and all the extra stuff,” Ms Kelly said. “I’m looking for things at chain stores, secondhand shops, my son’s school.”
Ms Kelly lives in social housing and has been grappling with the rising costs of living.
“The money just doesn’t go as far as it used to go,” she said.
“I can’t imagine how single parents on a Newstart income or pensioners living in the private rental market are even able to afford their basic rent.”
Even when Ms Kelly finds a job, there are other financial worries she will have to contend with.
“I’ll probably have to still do some after-school care,” she said.
Ms Kelly also issued a heartfelt plea, asking parents who could afford to buy things for their child to not go on the free or secondhand networks.
“Those groups that exist to provide secondhand uniforms are absolutely the foundation of where people like me go to get clothes for our kids each year,” she said.
Ms Kelly is not alone in her struggles.
“What we see on the ground and [are] hearing [from those] who work in all regions, is that families are
I’m anxious, I’ve been scrounging around trying to find cheap alternatives ...
telling us they’re just struggling with the growing costs of fuel, housing, transport and food,” Lesley Mackay, from The Smith Family, said.
“When people have to move homes because they can’t pay rent, it disrupts their children’s education.”
The Smith Family supported the education of thousands of Tasmanian children through its range of programs in the last financial year.
Ms Mackay, the general manager of the Tasmanian arm of the non-profit, said cost of living pressures were the biggest concern, followed by affordable housing.
“There are incidental education costs throughout the year, and that might be the ongoing need around digital access, they may need new shoes, participation that might be important to them like sports that come with costs,” she said.
With schools transitioning to digital learning, Ms Mackay said it was putting even more pressure on families.
“In the last 2-3 years, it’s shifted from a nice-to-have to a must-have. “Families with lower incomes are spending up to 5-10 per cent of their income to be digitally included.”