Mornington Peninsula, Boroondara among areas where families struggle to buy school supplies

Families in some of the state’s most advantaged council areas are struggling to pay for school uniforms and laptops, while one education charity warns demand for support is soaring.

Parents in some of Melbourne’s most advantaged council areas are struggling to pay for uniform, books and laptops.

Families in some of the state’s wealthiest council areas are struggling to fund their child’s education, with some relying on donations to ensure their kids are equipped with essential school resources.

A Herald Sun analysis of State Schools’ Relief (SSR) data has found families living in high-socio-economic local government areas including Boroondara, Yarra, Port Phillip and Mornington Peninsula are filing requests for educational support at increasing rates.

Not-for-profit charity SSR provides public school students facing hardship with essential supplies such as new uniforms, footwear, learning devices and other resources to ensure they’re equipped with everything they need to perform well at school.

Queenscliff experienced the largest percentage growth – 520 per cent – in items given to families between the 2019-22 and 2022-23 financial years, with the number of items distributed jumping from 11 to 93.

Meanwhile, families living on the Mornington Peninsula received more than 9500 items in the 2022-23 financial year after a staggering 2484 requests for support were filed.

Boroondara, which is home to affluent suburbs Kew, Camberwell and Hawthorn, also received 285 applications for support in the 2022-23 financial year – an increase of 95 from the year prior.

SSR chief executive Sue Karzis said the cost of living crisis has affected every family statewide, with disadvantage no longer “limited to certain postcodes or regions on a map”.

“SSR supports any family in need, and provides assistance for refugee families, families experiencing homelessness, out of home care students and families experiencing crisis such as house fires (and) floods,” Ms Karzis said.

“We also have many grandparents who have become carers and can’t afford the cost of uniforms and educational resources.”

Other well-off local government areas which saw more than a 100 per cent growth in school resources distributed between July 2019 and June 2023 include Melbourne, Kingston, Mitchell, Moonee Valley, Yarra and Nillumbik.

“In 2023, 85 per cent of the support went to uniform items (in Melbourne). The average number of items requested per student grew from two items to five items; that is, 150 per cent between 2021 to 2023,” Ms Karzis said.

“(In Moonee Valley) the average number of items requested per student grew from four items to nine items (last year); that is, 125 per cent between 2021 to 2023.”

Families in Mornington Peninsula made 2484 requests for support from SSR.

Boroondara saw a 59 per cent growth in school items distributed to families between 2019 and 2023.

Mum Karen Taylor, who lives in the Mornington Peninsula town of Hastings, had no choice but to seek support from SSR following a marriage and business partnership breakdown during the pandemic.

“I had no access to finances. I was lost and didn’t know where to turn. I knew it was important to keep everything as normal as possible for my children, but I felt embarrassed and ashamed to ask for help,” she said.

When Ms Taylor started her children at a new school following the ordeal, she struggled to provide them with the resources they needed to get the most out of their education.

“I’m so grateful a friend put me onto State Schools’ Relief, who supplied us with support for our first year at the new school, including books and uniforms for both of my children, which was such a huge weight off of my shoulders,” she said.

“No questions were asked and my inquiry was dealt with discreetly and confidentially.”

Families experiencing hardship are encouraged to seek assistance from their child’s school, where an application can be filed for SSR support.