A major shopping centre in Perth’s south offering free entry to kid’s entertainment was one way families marked the end of school holidays as parents face increasing worries about back-to-school affordability.
An annual survey of more than 2200 families by Australian non-profit organisation The Smith Family found concerns about affordability of school supplies had risen for the second consecutive year.
The Smith Family chief executive Doug Taylor said families were making “impossible decisions”.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“The families we support make impossible decisions every day about how to prioritise the limited resources they have,” he said.
“Housing, food and power are top of the list, but the cost of these essentials have all risen rapidly, meaning educational essentials like uniforms, books, a laptop and the internet are increasingly hard to afford.”
The Cockburn Gateway Summertime Fair will finish January 28 and includes carnival rides, sideshow games and entertainment across the centre’s piazza.
Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre manager Alexandra McAuliffe said the event had drawn families to the piazza.
“With families across Perth on holidays, we know that parents are looking for fun and affordable ways to keep the kids entertained over the break,” she said.
Fremantle again offered local families and visitors Funmantle, a two-week carnival through the summer holidays where rides were free and entry was just $5.
For others, a trip to any of Perth’s popular beaches remained peak free summer entertainment.
Efforts to save through the holidays came as The Smith Family survey also found about half of respondents think their children are likely to miss out on the digital devices needed for their schoolwork because they won’t be able to afford them.
About a third of respondents also thought their children would miss out on school excursions, while 45.6 per cent thought their children would miss out on uniforms or shoes for school.
Mr Taylor said digital devices were a crucial part of modern education and the most worrying part of the survey.
“Laptops and the internet are as essential as pens and paper in the 21st century classroom,” he said.
“Without them, students will struggle to do their schoolwork prep and keep up with their peers.”
School is back for WA students on January 31.