Basic school uniforms soar in price as education costs smash struggling families
A plain school jacket cost $30 last year but is now $50. Pants that were $38 are now $52. A tsunami of rising education costs is overwhelming families on struggle street.
The rising cost of living is pricing kids out of education, with three in five Australian families finding it hard to afford essential school items such as uniform, stationery and laptops this year.
Almost 52 per cent of families believe increasing grocery prices, energy costs and rent has made it difficult to afford school items, The Smith Family’s latest annual Pulse Survey of more than 1100 parents has found.
One is four parents also reported they were paying more for the same educational items they purchased last year, with a Herald Sun analysis of one uniform stockist revealing prices for some items have surged by up to 66 per cent.
A basic school jacket worth $30 in 2024 has since increased to $50, while school pants have increased from $38 to $52.
The retailer’s school socks were also hit by inflation, increasing by 46 per cent from $6.99 in 2024 to $10.25 this year, while the price of a skirt has doubled from $25 to $50.
The need for more expensive items like devices has also put a strain on the family budget for 30.7 per cent of families in the survey.
The Smith Family chief executive Doug Taylor said it’s the fourth consecutive Christmas where the cost-of-living crisis will weigh on families already experiencing disadvantage.
“Many children will reflect on this school year knowing they gave it their all – yet the financial hardships their families faced have likely held them back from reaching their full potential,” he said.
“The families we support face impossible choices every day – between putting food on the table and paying for school essentials like uniforms and laptops.
“When survival takes precedence, education suffers and children are left behind.”
Melbourne mother-of-five Wasima Ghafari is one parent who benefits from the Smith Family’s support to help send four of her children to school.
“Sometimes the school books are very expensive, like $90 to $100 each,” she said.
“Last week, I paid $95 for a jacket because my son ripped his one … sometimes it’s very hard (to afford everything) but I have to manage it.”
Ms Ghafari – who has children in both primary and secondary school – said support from The Smith Family gives her children more confidence to keep up with their schoolwork.
“My children’s education is hugely important to me as a mum. It opens up the doors for so
many other areas of life that I want them to embrace and make the most out of,” she said.
To support parents like Wasima, The Smith Family is launching its 2025 Christmas Appeal in a bid to raise $4.9m between October 28 and January 4.
It’s hoped the cash will support more than 11,000 children and young people, who will have access to the not-for-profit charity’s range of evidence-based learning and mentoring programs, including the Learning for Life initiative.
“We know that all parents want their children to do best at school,” Mr Taylor said.
“And our Pulse Survey shows that the families we work with are extremely proud of their children, particularly when it comes to their progress, effort and attitude to learning.”
In Victoria, it’s hoped the state government’s student dress code changes – which will ban school logos on shorts, pants, skirts and socks in Victorian government schools – will make uniforms more affordable for parents next year.
The ban means parents will be able to purchase generic items for everything from the waist down – such as pants from Kmart or socks from Best&Less.
Education Minister Ben Carroll said a good education should never be out of reach because of a family’s financial hardship.
“We’re providing real cost of living relief to families in need – helping them cover the cost of camps, sporting activities and excursions and free school breakfasts to make sure no child is missing out,” he said.
“We know that school costs can add up, and that’s why we’re also helping with uniform costs and saying goodbye to expensive branded shorts, skirts, trackies and socks.”
Are you struggling to afford the increased cost of education? Share your story with us in the comments or email education@news.com.au
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Originally published as Basic school uniforms soar in price as education costs smash struggling families
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