Parents, it’s time to check your emails.
Earlier this month, the State Government rolled out their $400 School Saving Bonus, emailing eligible government school families with the good news.
With one voucher issued per child, the $280 million investment will aim to ease the cost-of-living pressures for almost 700,000 Victorian families, allowing funds to be spent on uniforms—both new and secondhand—,textbooks, camps, excursions, or other extracurricular activities.
Uniforms and textbooks can be purchased both in-person or online through school-approved suppliers, including State School Relief, which offers items such as shoes, swimwear, and workwear for VCE Vocational Major students.
Minister for Education Ben Carroll said that the vouchers would prepare students for the upcoming school year.
“With the cost of living biting, no parent or carer wants to think about their child missing out on the essentials like school uniforms and textbooks, camps, excursions, and school sports,” he said.
“We’re making life a little bit easier for families by providing a $400 once-off payment from today so that families can begin planning and budgeting for the 2025 school year.”
Unspent funds will automatically transfer to a family’s school account once the uniform and textbook voucher period expires on June 30, 2025, with parents able to use the remaining funds on future school activities.
For families of students at a non-government school, the $400 will be provided directly to each school to be managed in consultation with the student’s family.
Non-government school families who are eligible for the means-tested Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund (including healthcare and concession card holders) are also eligible for the School Saving Bonus. Families will only need to apply for the Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund to receive both types of support.
For more information on the $400 School Saving Bonus, visit www.vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus.
