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Article Mums VIRAL back to school rant after scrap of Schoolkids Bonus Scheme

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A mother-of-four has called back to school expenses a ‘joke’ after spending $578 on the mere basics for three of her kids.

A Facebook rant by Queensland mum, Cindy Bogan, has resonated across the country after the Schoolkids Bonus Scheme was scrapped and left parents to pay up hundreds of dollars, shares Daily Mail.

She said the hundreds of dollars did not include the cost of the compulsory school uniform, school shoes or backpacks – but the mere basics.

The public school her child attended asked each student to provide whiteboard markers for their teacher, at a cost of $88 for six packs of four, Ms Bogan said.

Cindy writes, “This! This is a joke!

This is my bill from Big W. I am in no way targeting this at Big W – they are one of the cheapest for Back2School supplies.

This is the total for books & stationery ONLY for a Year 10, Year 8 & Prep student for commencing 2017 in a PUBLIC school.

Included in this total is $88. $88 for 6 packs of 4 Whiteboard Markers for the Prep students TEACHER. 24 Whiteboard Markers PER student. So if there is 20 students in ONE Prep Class – that’s a total of 480 Whiteboard Markers. Are you serious!?

I understand teachers are in no way on a flamboyant wage but this is something the GOVERNMENT should be coughing up in order for our children to receive the education they are entitled to!

They whinge that the youth of today aren’t trying/aren’t interested/aren’t “applying” themselves when in fact, the government have made it near impossible for 74% of families to be able to afford to ensure their children are fully equipped to commenced schooling!

$578 JUST for the BASICS! That’s not including the $300 for COMPULSORY uniforms. That’s not including $150 for COMPULSORY footwear. That’s not including $150 on SUSTAINABLE backpacks to last more than 1 school term. And lastly, that’s not including the $440 combined total for the School Resource Scheme – which seeing as I have had to provide the A4 paper & tissues – I am unsure what this scheme even covers anymore!

What has p***ed me off most? The removal of the SCHOOL BONUS PAYMENT. The above cost to myself today is what 74% of Australian Families earn in a WEEK! That’s without having to pay rent/mortgages and without the rising cost of electricity/food & fuel.

So many families relied on the School Bonus to do exactly what I did today – prepare their children for the coming school year. I hope all you politicians and your ignorance to the average Australian family see this & make the change. You are happy to help every country & allow every immigrant without processing into our country but your not happy to help the hard working, citizens and families of the underpaid Australians that keep the caviar on your tables. Wake up Australia!”

Her post has attracted loads of support and been shared over 2500 times.


The Schoolkids Bonus was last paid in July last year, and will not continue in 2017.

Its axing means parents will lose up to $856 for each of their school aged children this year.

Families with a combined household income below $100,000 will lose $430 per primary school aged child, and $856 per high school aged child each year.

The bonus had been dished out in two payments in January and July to help pay for school uniforms, books, sports and music, the Department of Social Services website says.

Without the bonus, 2017 will be $1,712 more expensive for an eligible family with two high school aged children, to save the government $4.5 billion.

Do you have lots of expenses to cover this school year?

Share your comments below.

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Comments

  • Since when do you have to provide markers for the teachers. That’s BS!

    Reply

  • I will certainly miss the bonus – it helped with some of the expenses associated with school.

    Reply

  • I think the costs this mum is mentioning are outrageous high ! I sure didn’t spent that much.

    Reply

  • Just for 1 child I’m paying that amount! Then I’ve got uniform which is $750+ and a laptop and that’s for a public school. Mind you some of the stuff I bought art the cheapest I could find and I stock up on things when they go on clearance, knowing that I’ll need them next year

    Reply

  • It definitely is becoming harder and harder to make ends meet. Not only have we their schooling needs but we also need to pay for necessites such as power and they are also increasing costs for this. You wonder where this is all going to end as our wages are not rising at the same rate.

    Reply

  • Going back to work can be struggle – but there are ways to make that transition a little easier too. 🙂

    • Oops this posted in the wrong section – should be with going back to school article. 🙁

    Reply

  • Oh my god that’s not fear

    Reply

  • I must admit that I am wondering if she has got the whiteboard marker thing wrong.
    It doesnt seem right that each child has to give the teacher that number of markers.
    If this is correct i think she needs to name the school and they should explain why this is acceptable.

    Reply

  • yes school fees are ridiculous especially when you go through ordering book lists through the school and you don’t even know if your child gets access to the things you have ordered for them!

    Even if you shop around and get cheaper school books you still have to fork out on top of that for swimming carnivals, swimming lessons, excursions out of school, incursions, school fete’s, school discos, school book club, any school fundraising drives – you are constantly handing out money all year round – govt should be putting less into their own personal pockets and more into schooling the next generation that the govt hopes oneday to be leaders of this country – right now I don’t see that happening!

    Reply

  • That’s a lot of money! Did she shop around to find the cheapest? Did she look online, where there’s a huge price difference to stores

    Reply

  • Local members will listen to and address letters from constituents with grievances and complaints and often this is a good avenue for getting action and being heard.

    • Education and associated costs are a high priority and those that influence need to know everyday Australians thoughts/views.

    Reply

  • This year I was lucky. For my daughter starting Year 9 in an independ public school, I paid less than 100 dollars. But we had a lot of material left from the previous years. And of course that’s just the resource list. Aside there are school uniform, excursions… I will surely miss the school bonus this year. 🙁

    Reply

  • $731 here for two high school kids fir booklists. All the books have to be purchased brand new to accommodate the new curriculum.

    Reply
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