Smith Family survey finds one in four Aussie families struggling to afford school lunches

The cost-of-living crisis has hit Sydney school canteens, with new research showing it is now unaffordable for many families.

Kate Sohl and her kids are among the many financially disadvantaged families hit even harder by the cost of living crisis. The school canteen is a once-a-fortnight treat. Picture: Justin Lloyd

The cost-of-living crisis means hot meals from the school canteen are now an unaffordable luxury for many Australian parents, with as many as one in four families struggling to afford school lunches and snacks.

A survey of more than 1000 Australian parents, conducted on behalf of the Smith Family, found 26 per cent either struggle to pay for, or cannot afford, school lunches.

Other educational costs are hitting even harder, with one in three struggling to pay for uniforms, bags and shoes while camps and excursions are all but out of reach for 39 per cent of the families surveyed.

Almost half are finding the cost of extra-curricular activities like music lessons, sport and coaching difficult or impossible to meet.

Willmot mum of three Kate Sohl is one of the many Sydney parents battling rising rents, soaring electricity bills and inflation at the supermarket checkout.

Western Sydney mum Kate Sohl, with her children, RJ, 6, Dieter, 20 months, and Anika, 7. The family has been struggling with the increased cost of living and their school costs are supported by The Smith Family. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Her school-aged kids, seven-year old Anika and six-year-old RJ, are supported by a Smith Family scholarship – a portion of which Kate squirrels away for a trip to the canteen once a fortnight.

$20 buys the kids a fruit cup or yoghurt at recess and a “graze and go” plate of fruit, veg and dips at lunch.

“I do packed lunches the rest of the time and I’ve sought community help with free food for that – because my bills are so high at the moment – for the last year and a half,” Ms Sohl said.

“I used to be able to spend 100-and-something dollars on food and that would be a full week’s worth – now we have to spend close to $300. That’s just for meat and essentials, and I have to source out free fruit and veg.”

A Sydney school canteen menu. Cost of living pressures mean fewer families are forking out for a chicken burger every day. Picture: Supplied

The Smith Family’s ‘Learning For Life’ program awards low-income families between $478 and $772 a year for school supplies, something Kate says has changed her kids’ lives.

“If it wasn’t for the Smith Family, my kids wouldn’t even have proper uniforms … (Anika) was going in the plain-coloured clothes you get from Big W,” she said.

“My daughter used to come home and ask me, ‘why don’t I have a school uniform like everyone else?’ It would make me feel quite upset … but now she feels like she belongs at the school.”

(File image) Branded school uniforms are often several times more expensive than their generic equivalents – but being the only kid in the class without the school logo can be an isolating experience.

The Smith Family’s CEO Doug Taylor said the survey demonstrates the depth of the cost-of-living crisis across the country, and how hard children in families who were already financially disadvantaged have been hit.

“Young people experiencing disadvantage need our support now more than ever before, so they are able to catch up, keep up and make the most of their schooling,” he said.

The children’s charity will today launch its 2024 ‘Big Giveback’ campaign, which sees a portion of the sale of Asahi-brand drinks donated to The Smith Family for the next month.