Steven Miles dips into own pocket to help woman pay back-to-school bill

Steven Miles has opened his own wallet to help a desperate mum pay for back-to-school supplies, urging principals to consider cost-of-living pressures when compiling must-have items for students.

Steven Miles has dipped into his own pocket to help a desperate mother pay for school supplies, with the Queensland Premier admitting principals could be more conscious of the pressure families are under.

Mr Miles revealed to The Courier-Mail of a “heartbreaking” encounter he had with a Townsville mother who told him she’d spent the entire day scouring op shops for used school uniforms for her children.

Mr Miles spoke to the mother at Brothers League’s Club on Tuesday night who told him she had to spend about $180 on a refurbished laptop required for school. He said he found her story “really heartbreaking”.

It’s understood Mr Miles reimbursed the mother’s purchase with his own money.

Premier Steven Miles in Townsville. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“Public education should be free, universal and accessible,” Mr Miles later said on Wednesday.

“The cost of textbooks, uniforms, technology items, resource charges and camps can really add up. My personal bug bear is transaction charges for tuckshop orders. It might only be a couple of dollars a day on top of the food cost but it does add up.”

It comes as some Brisbane families are being asked to scrape together hundreds of dollars for “compulsory” formal attire like $215 blazers and $85 hats despite their children attending public secondary schools.

“I know schools have programs to support families doing it tough but many parents are too proud to ask,” Mr Miles said

“I also know many teachers end up dipping into their own pockets to buy essential items and even food.

“Queensland schools are blessed with amazing principals who do a great job every day. I’d simply ask they be conscious of the pressures families are under when they make decisions about mandatory items and charges.”

The Courier-Mail on Wednesday reported Queensland families were being forced to choose between food, rent and petrol over rising back to school items which has left charity op shops being inundated with inquiries.

New independent research from the Futurity Investment Group further highlighted the crisis, estimating that Brisbane families would be set to fork out more than $87,000 over 13 years for a child starting prep in 2024. It would equate to nearly $7000 a year per child.

The Futurity Investment Group’s research estimated the total cost of public education for regional and remote Queensland kids to be about $72,600 over the 13 years.