Queensland teachers covering $1000 per year shortfall on food, clothes, stationery for students

The average out-of-pocket expenses for individual teachers and principals has peaked at an alarming rate. SEE THE STATS

Queensland teachers are spending over $1000 of their own money on jumpers, food and stationery to ensure students don’t go without, alarming survey results reveal.

The average annual out-of-pocket expenses reported by the state school teachers and principals increased by more than $100 – peaking at $1080 this year, up from $939 last year.

The Australian Education Union believes the data shows chronic underfunding of Queensland public schools, while the state’s Department of Education says there is no expectation for staff to cover other people’s expenses and there are departmental avenues for reimbursement.

The AEU national State of our Schools Survey 2024, conducted in March and April, attracted 15,219 responses from teachers, principals and other staff. There were 2367 from Queensland.

The results showed 91.7 per cent of Queensland respondents used their own money for supplies or equipment for their school or students. This is up from 89.9 per cent in 2023.

School staff were asked what they are generally purchasing out of their own pocket. The most popular responses from Queensland-based educators were stationery (89.3 per cent), classroom equipment (87.7 per cent), support for individual students (60.7 per cent), library resources/textbooks (41.7 per cent), and sports/play equipment (19.3 per cent).

Sandgate State School Year 4-5 teacher Lisa Broadhurst, whose classroom career spans 15 years, believes she spent as much as $1800 on her classroom and students in a year.

“Things like curtains, classroom decorations, art paper, art supplies, cushions for calming corners, all these little add up,” she said.

Lisa Broadhurst Sandgate State School Year 4/5 teacher discusses her out-of-pocket expenses to make up for funding and resourcing gaps at her school. pic: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“I think with cost of living we’re seeing parents not coming with the full booklist of items – things like notebooks, pencils, and glue you tend to supply to some students to try to keep the impact of things at home off them and to protect the individual child.

“I notice a couple of students showing up without socks regularly and I just offered socks to them, and also having some spare school jumpers available … I would much rather have students here happy and warm, rather than cold and upset.”

Runcorn State High School teacher and year level co-ordinator Bronwyn Darben, who has 25 years on the job, said one responsibility she takes on and funds herself is ensuring there is always a loaf of bread and basic spreads for sandwiches if any students don’t have lunch.

“I probably spend $20-25 per fortnight on incidentals such as pens and pencils, spare paper, incentives to encourage students to work or behave … it does add up,” she said.

“I’m in a fairly low socio-economic school and we have a bring your own computer policy, but not every family can afford a computer. Teachers can’t assist with that, but this means we have a digital divide and we have to prepare physical and digital resources for students.”

AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said nationally 88 per cent of teachers, principals and support staff said they spend their own money on their school and students this year.

“Across the country, we’re now at almost $1000 a year on average ($963 in 2024, $886 in 2023) and that’s the money that can be accounted for, there’s probably other money on staff members’ shopping bills that is not accounted for,” she said.

Ms Haythorpe also pointed to the Queensland survey participation numbers in the past year, which have jumped from 554 respondents last year, to 2367 this year.

“If you think of the workload around doing this survey, the extraordinary jump says people want to say what is going on around these issues in particular … the sector is crying out for help and needs to be backed, this is not sustainable going forward,” she said.

A Department of Education spokesman said principals and school staff can be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the course of departmental business.

“The Department does not expect principals or school staff to pay for expenses of other persons,” the statement said.

“Principals, in consultation with the school community, make informed decisions about

resources and programs that are best suited to meet the needs of their school through a

record education investment of $20.9bn this financial year.

“School principals are responsive to the needs of their school communities and the cost-of-

living pressures being experienced. They have flexibility in the prioritisation of available

resourcing, including operating various local initiatives in conjunction with their P & Cs.

“Local initiatives may include, but are not limited to: schools organising to bulk purchase stationery packs and book supplies, free breakfast programs, and homework clubs.”

This year’s State Budget included a $15 million funding boost for the School and Community Food Relief Program to provide food security for families struggling with cost-of-living pressures, and boost the healthy options available at school tuckshops.