‘I can spend more time with my family’: cost of living win for parents of school kids

For the third year running, families at 84 South Australian Catholic schools have been delivered some much needed news.

Tiana with mum, Mara Omar, and brother, Mateo at St Brigid's School in Kilburn. Picture: Matt Loxton

Optical dispenser Mara Omar was stressed about having to pick up additional hours at work but can now rest easy after a cost of living win for families of schoolchildren.

It is because her children, Mateo, 10 and Tiana, 9 attend St Brigid’s School in Kilburn, one of 84 Catholic schools that have frozen tuition fees for the 2024 school year.

“It’s certainly a relief with the cost of living and everything going up,” Ms Omar, 47, from Blair Athol, said.

“Because I’m casually employed I don’t have to pick up more hours and I can spend more time with my family.”

She is looking forward to “the little things” that will come from the financial relief.

“We can experience some nice things like going out for a meal with family.”

She was bracing for an increase in fees but was pleasantly surprised.

“We were all expecting a price hike and everyone (at the school) will be a lot happier.”

Tiana with mum, Mara Omar, and brother, Mateo at St Brigid's School in Kilburn. Picture: Matt Loxton

St Brigid’s School principal Shannon Correll said she was “ecstatic” to be able to share the fee freeze with the community.

“It’s one less financial issue families have to worry about.”

It will be the third consecutive year that Catholic Education has not raised fees in the state.

Catholic Education SA executive director Dr Neil McGoran hopes the decision will alleviate some of the cost of living pressures being experienced by families in the state.

“At a time when South Australians are experiencing high inflation, increasing interest rates and mortgage pressure, families need affordable school fees more than ever,” Dr McGoran said.

“The bottom line is families matter.”

The tuition fee freeze was able to accommodated by growth in enrolments at schools and “prudent financial management”, he said.

The sector’s August census shows enrolments have risen more than four per cent since the same time last year.

Originally published as ‘I can spend more time with my family’: cost of living win for parents of school kids