Thousands of Wyndham families will be helped to pay for their children’s school camps, sports and excursions if Labor wins the state election.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews said that, if elected, Labor would create a $150 million package to cover the costs of extracurricular activities for struggling families.
Under the proposal, eligible primary school pupils would receive $125 a year, while secondary students would get $225. Payments would go directly to schools but be tied to specific students. Families with a healthcare card would be eligible.
The announcement follows a Coalition decision to cut the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), which provides low-income families with funds to cover school expenses.
The EMA provides $200 to families with children in prep, $150 for each child in grades 1-6, $300 for students in year 7 and $250 for students in year 8.
The Coalition plans to pay money previously used for the EMA to schools.
Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Emma King said Labor’s funding would go a long to giving vulnerable students the best chance to participate fully in the opportunities schools have to offer.
It is estimated that 200,000 children across Victoria, including more than 35,000 in the western metropolitan region, receive the EMA.
