Australia, insurance, car, home, live, holidays

Angela Harrow’s daughter,Sofia,12,is about to start high school.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Elanora Heights Public School on the northern beaches has asked each kindergarten student to bring a box of tissues,two packets of wet wipes and a packet of whiteboard markers in 2025.

Samuel Gilbert Public School in Castle Hill has asked kindergarten students to bring glue sticks for communal use and two small tubs of Play-Doh “to be used for the class”. In the Hunter Valley,Muswellbrook Public’s equipment list of suggested items included tissues,hand soap and Play-Doh.

Parents have beenforced to pay hundreds of dollars more on holiday care after the teachers’ union struck a deal that gave them extra pupil-free days,pushing the start of the school year back to at least February 6.

Education Department secretary Murat Dizdarlast year told principals to use their budget to pay for supplies such as tissues and to desist from using language such as “fee”,“charge” or “levy”.

Some schools are no longer asking for communal classroom supplies or payment for “fees” in line with the new policy. Others,such as Castle Hill Public School,last year sent parents an “invoice” to help pay for subject costs associated with maths and reading. It also asked for money to pay for consumables “including paper,photocopying,art supplies” and subscriptions to online learning platforms.

Kellyville Public last year charged fees of $185 for most classes. It said it would cover the voluntary school contribution,technology levy,textbooks and art supplies.

Lane Cove Public School’s P&C president Caleb Taylor said parents with school-aged children typically had a big mortgage or were paying high rents and genuinely struggling to get by.

Lane Cove Public P&C president Caleb Taylor said parents were struggling financially.Credit:Louie Douvis

“I know there are a lot more hardship cases ... last year we had families asking for uniforms,” said Taylor,who is also an independent councillor on the Lane Cove Council.

“Whether you’re in a $5 million property in Lane Cove or a $1 million house somewhere else,the cost of living is so high ... The cost of groceries,petrol has gone up 20 per cent.”

Some public primary schools request parents supply laptops for every student. Research last year revealed NSW public primary schoolswere outsourcing physical education lessons – and sending parents an invoice to pay an external provider.

Parent Angela Harrow will buy paper towels and tissues for her son,Alexander,to take to class after his school,Ermington Public,listed it as an “optional” request. She was happy to purchase the items and pay her voluntary contributions.

“I feel bad for the teachers,” she said.

She would like to see more transparency on where funds were spent,noting supplying stationery had not freed up cash to refurbish water-bubblers which were in dire need of attention,among other issues.

“I also think they’re holding back with some stuff. While they’ve upgraded the air-conditioning,security is a bit lacking,” she said.

In 2023,the latest year for which data is available,NSW parents paid a total of $29 million in voluntary contributions and $41 million for subject contributions.

Angela Harrow will buy paper towels and tissues for her son Alexander (6) to take to class.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

A NSW Department of Education spokesman did not answer why principals were asking parents to pay for communal supplies after being told not to by the head of the department. The spokesman reiterated that financial contributions were voluntary.

“Public schools can request families make voluntary contributions. However,making a contribution to your local school is and always will be 100 per cent voluntary,” he said.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories,analysis and insights.Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

License this article