The costliest a part of schooling is tuition. Nonetheless, many Aussies are coming to phrases with the additional college prices, together with stationery and uniform prices that they’re hit with, particularly at the moment of 12 months as they put together to ship the children again to highschool.
Based on Finder, Australian households are anticipated to spend a staggering $3.5 billion nationwide on college provides alone. This doesn’t embody tuition however does embody issues like stationary, books and uniforms.


On common, dad and mom can anticipate to pay:
- $684 for main college college students and $1,132 for highschool children on college provides. This contains books, stationery, uniforms and digital units.
- The costliest merchandise on this listing is uniforms which price round $245 for main college students and $469 for secondary college students.
- Digital units are additionally up there, costing round $250 per youngster.
Consider the price of tuition and the common is $2,547 for main college students and $4,793 for secondary college students. Nonetheless, many households shall be confronted with MUCH greater charges than this, particularly if their youngster attends personal college.
In case you’re a non-public college, in Sydney specifically, anticipate $27,000 per 12 months, or, an unimaginable $357,931 per youngster over 13 years. See the total listing of college payment prices throughout Australia.
The hidden college prices Aussie dad and mom face
Tuition is one thing I anticipate. All three of my youngsters attend personal colleges and I’m effectively conscious that I must funds round $6,000 per 12 months for these charges. However the college provides and extra prices had been one thing I wasn’t anticipating.
Right here are some things that caught me off guard. Consider these prices are primarily based on Catholic colleges in Queensland and each college and state will range.
Uniform prices
Count on round $40 per piece of clothes (model new). Many personal colleges even have sports activities and formal uniforms so it’s essential buy greater than only one set. Formal hats may also set you again round $50-$80. You may simply anticipate to pay round $600 on uniforms alone, particularly for highschool college students.
TOP TIP: I completely 100% advocate procuring second-hand for college uniforms. Your native Fb market is an efficient place to start out as are Pre-Beloved Uniform teams in your space. Most colleges even have a secondhand uniform store which may prevent a lot. Uniforms second-hand typically begin round $5 per article of clothes.
Backpack
Count on round $80 for a good backpack. My children require a particular backpack that units me again $75 per bag, however it’s assured to final them all through the first/secondary journey. So, for 7 years of main college, an $80 backpack solely equates to round $12 a 12 months. Sure, you should buy $12 backpacks at Kmart however they more than likely received’t final a couple of 12 months.
Sneakers
The dying of me. Particularly with a 13-year-old boy whose toes received’t cease increasing. Make sure you examine if the college has any formalities about sneakers. Many would require black sneakers in addition to a further pair for sports activities. Most youngsters might want to buy two new pairs of college sneakers a few times a 12 months. At round $100 a pair, you’ll be able to see how this provides up.
Pc
My son’s college gives the children with a pc however many colleges don’t. You may get a good on a regular basis college laptop for round $400. Or you’ll be able to go for a MacBook which is round $1400 model new.
Bus
Right here’s a enjoyable price I HAD no thought about. In case your youngster takes public transport to highschool (bus, practice, ferry), you could be required to pay for it. My son’s bus payment is $13 per week. That’s $520 a 12 months which appears insane, however driving him there and again every day would additionally price a fairly penny in gas.
TOP TIP: In case your youngster does take public transport, take a look on the Faculty Transport Help Scheme the place you could be eligible for a refund. The applying course of takes a while but it surely may be price it in the long term.
Consultant Sport
Watching our youngsters excel at school sports activities is such an incredible factor but when they qualify for consultant college sports activities on the state and nationwide stage, there’s a complete new ball recreation of bills together with consultant uniforms, outerwear (the JACKETS are a should for any sporty child) plus journey prices (flights, resort, and so on). This may be an surprising price for a lot of households and, sadly, it’s one of many causes many children who do qualify for consultant sport can not go forward with it.
Camp and subject journeys
All the time examine to see if these are included in your tuition charges. Count on any outing to price round $150 for the day per youngster. A 3-day camp will typically be round $400 for every youngster.
Fundraising Occasions
My daughters’ college LOVES to fundraise which is superior. Gold coin donations are just about a weekly factor however there are additionally different greater fundraisers like famines and color runs the place youngsters want “sponsorships”. The Lazy Mum in me tends to simply ship them to highschool with a $50 word every and name it a fundraising day, however the Frugal Mum suggests getting your youngster to write down a little bit of a speech and recite it to the neighbours, asking for sponsorships. This can be a nice lesson in public talking and confidence constructing too.
Are you able to consider some other hidden prices you weren’t anticipating again to highschool? Make sure you additionally try our information to the finest back-to-school merchandise of 2024 together with reductions on backpacks, labels, water bottles and extra.