Mark Monaghan, Eva Lawler announce boost for Back To School vouchers in 2024
An extra $50 is enough to make or break a Territory student’s first day of school, and a newly bolstered voucher is giving families just that.
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An extra $50 is enough to make or break a Territory student’s first day of school, and a government back to school voucher is aiming to give families just that.
The NT government’s Back To School voucher initiative has been given a $50 boost, raising the amount to $200 per school-aged child.
Moulden Primary School parent Kirsty Pratt said the extra money meant parents could breathe a little easier when sending their kids to school in 2024.
“With the rise in the cost of living, obviously the extra 50 bucks will definitely go a long way,” Ms Pratt said.
“It can be for an extra uniform, or to put money towards excursions and things like that – I think it’s awesome.”
Education Minister Mark Monaghan said 95 per cent of the vouchers were redeemed in 2023, equating to 41,173 students out of 43,332 across the NT.
He said the scheme would be redeemable until the end of term one.
“This is one of the things I remember as a teacher that goes to the heart of justice,” Mr Monaghan said.
“It’s about that first day for that family who may not have been able to afford exactly what the child sitting next to them could afford.”
Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the scheme was a way to help those “doing it tough”.
“Every Territory child deserves the best start in life and this scheme helps families to provide the necessities kids need to get their year off to a good start,” she said.
“It’s an ongoing commitment by our government to change the Back To School voucher to $200.
“Every schoolchild in the Northern Territory, every school-aged child gets it.
“So that’s a preschooler, a homeschooler, government school, non government school.”
The raise in the amount comes as families were granted access to $100 sport vouchers per student.
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