Back-to-school costs landing all at once?
Uniforms, supplies and fees arrive in the same fortnight every year. There is government support for them, and second-hand options most schools run quietly.
Plan ahead
Moneysmart sets out how to spend less on uniforms and supplies, and what government help exists
What this is
School costs are predictable and still catch households out, because they land in January alongside everything else the summer brings. The savings are unglamorous and real: second-hand uniforms, stationery bought against the list rather than the display, and whatever your state offers in vouchers or allowances. The part most people miss is that support exists at all, and that almost none of it arrives automatically.
Does it apply to you?
- Families with school-aged children
- Anyone receiving Family Tax Benefit, which is the eligibility gateway for several forms of help
- Anyone facing a fee notice they cannot meet in one payment
How to do it
- Ask the school about its second-hand uniform shop or swap. Most run one and few advertise it.
- Check what your state or territory offers. Several run back-to-school vouchers or allowances, and they are claimed rather than automatic.
- Check whether you qualify for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule at the same time, since it runs on the same eligibility as many school payments.
- Spread the cost rather than absorbing it in one fortnight. If it is already too late for that, ask the school about a payment plan before the due date.
Where people lose the money
Buying everything new from the school shop.
Ask about the second-hand shop or swap first. Most schools run one and rarely promote it.
Paying the full contribution without asking.
Parts of school contributions are frequently voluntary. Ask which.
Missing state vouchers because nothing arrived.
They are claimed, not sent. Check your state's education department page each year.
Questions
What government help is there?
It varies by state and territory, and commonly includes back-to-school vouchers or allowances tied to receiving a payment such as Family Tax Benefit. Moneysmart's page links through to what is available and where.
Are school fees compulsory?
In government schools much of what is requested is a voluntary contribution rather than a fee. Ask the school to separate the compulsory items from the voluntary ones.
What if I cannot pay by the due date?
Ask the school before the date, not after. Most have payment arrangements and hardship provisions, and using them early is far easier than dealing with an overdue account.
Where these numbers come from
- Moneysmart (ASIC), Reducing back-to-school costs · read 2026-09-23
Last gone over 2026-09-23. Figures change; the link above is always the current one.
Published by Income Lab, Melbourne. Responsible for this page: Jarred Krowitz.