Australian parents are facing a severe financial squeeze as the new school year approaches, with new data revealing the staggering sums required to educate each child. In response, the Greens political party has renewed its call for the federal government to implement an $800 cash payment to every family to help cover these escalating expenses.
The Mounting Financial Burden on Families
According to a recent study released by the Futurity Investment Group and analysed by Finder, the cost of schooling is set to place an immense burden on household budgets. The research forecasts that in 2026, parents will spend an average of $2,847 for each primary school-aged child. For those with children in high school, the figure almost doubles to a hefty $5,310 per student.
The long-term projections are even more eye-watering. The study calculates that a full 13 years of public education in a major city will cost families $113,594 per child. Opting for private schooling sends that amount soaring to $247,174, while an independent school education carries an average price tag of $369,594.
Confronted with these sums, many families are being forced to make difficult choices. The Finder data indicates that almost one third of parents will resort to using credit cards to pay for school necessities. Others are saving cash by purchasing second-hand items or opting out of non-essentials like school excursions, electronic devices, and canteen lunches.
Political Calls for Direct Relief and Systemic Change
The Greens have seized on this data to pressure the Albanese government, urging it to adopt their pre-election policy for an $800 back-to-school bonus. The party argues this direct payment is essential to deliver cost-of-living relief to struggling households.
Greens education spokesperson, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, launched a sharp critique of the major parties. 'Back-to-school costs are just getting higher and higher every year because Labor and the Liberals are short-changing public schools by billions and shifting the costs onto parents,' she stated.
Senator Allman-Payne emphasised the principle of free public education, lamenting that families now face 'ever-higher fees and charges and extensive back-to-school shopping lists that can add up to thousands of dollars.' She linked the issue to broader economic fairness, noting, 'With one in three big corporations paying no tax, and almost a million children in Australia living in poverty, something is seriously wrong.'
The Senator, who revealed she 'regularly' spends hundreds from her own salary on classroom resources, called for immediate action. 'If Labor wanted to stop families from having to pay thousands in school fees, they would implement full funding of schools now, and help struggling families with $800 direct cash back-to-school payments as the Greens plan has proposed,' she argued.
Existing State-Based Support for Parents
While the federal Labor government has yet to respond to the Greens' national proposal, some financial support is available at a state level, depending on where families reside.
- In Queensland, the government's Back to School Boost provides $100 for every primary school student.
- In New South Wales, Back to School vouchers are worth $150 per child and are available for all students from kindergarten to year 12.
- In Victoria, annual payments are set to increase significantly. From 1 January 2026, they will rise from $154 for primary and $256 for secondary students to a uniform $400 payment.
These measures, however, fall short of the comprehensive $800 cash boost championed by the Greens. As the debate over education funding and cost-of-living support intensifies, Australian parents continue to bear the brunt of rising school expenses, sparking a urgent political discussion about affordability and equity in the education system.
