News

Education | July 02, 2024

Fair School Bonus campaign launched to help regional families

The Victorian Nationals have launched a Fair School Bonus campaign to fight for more equitable access for regional families to the Allan Labor Government’s unfair School Saving Bonus.

The $400 bonus, which was announced in the State Budget, automatically applies to every Victorian government school student, but it is rigorously restricted for students attending low-fee Catholic and independent schools. 

High-income families with children attending government schools will instantly receive the bonus, while families who send their children to non-government schools will miss out entirely. 

Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said the system must be fair for all families.

“The bonus must provide cost-of-living relief for all those in need,” she said.

“More than 50 per cent of students come from disadvantaged families in many regional low-fee Catholic schools. Yet under Labor’s scheme only a small percentage of these students will be eligible for the $400 bonus.

“If the Allan Labor Government wants to support regional Victorians with cost-of-living assistance, they should have done it fairly. 

“It is terrible to exclude tens of thousands of hardworking families in regional Victoria based on their choice of school for their children. 

“Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.”

Families of students attending the following Catholic and independent schools in Lowan are ineligible to receive the bonus:

OneSchool Global, Hamilton; Good Shepherd College, Hamilton; Holy Trinity Lutheran College, Horsham; Monivae College, Hamilton; Nhill Lutheran School; Our Lady Help of Christians School, Murtoa; St Colman’s Primary School, Mortlake; Sacred Heart Primary School, Casterton; St Brigid’s College, Horsham; St Joseph’s School, Coleraine; St Joseph’s Primary School, Penshurst; St Malachy’s School, Edenhope; St Mary’s Primary School, Hamilton; St Mary’s Primary School, Warracknabeal; St Michael & St John’s School, Horsham; St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Stawell; St Patrick’s, Nhill; St Peter’s Lutheran School, Dimboola; Tarrington Lutheran School; The Hamilton and Alexandra College, Hamilton.

Ms Kealy encouraged regional Victorians to show their support for The National’s Fair School Bonus Campaign by visiting vicn.at/schoolsavingbonus