The Allan Labor Government is helping families with the cost of living and schooling by rolling out free vision screening and glasses to even more students across the state, saving families up to $600.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today visited Gladstone Views Primary School where 150 students will have their vision screened and get free glasses if they need them.
The program provides free vision screening and, if needed, further testing and free glasses to participating Prep to Year 3 students. Families can save between $100 and $600 depending on the type of vision issue.
Unlike the Liberals, who let schools crumble while slashing $1 billion from education - and even cutting Fresh Fruit Fridays - the Labor Government is making sure students get the best start through programs like Glasses for Kids.
The Government's $6.8 million expansion of the Glasses for Kids program has tripled its capacity. It's now available to 770 eligible schools and 74,000 more Prep to Year 3 students through to 2027.
During the 2024 school year, Glasses for Kids visited 110 schools. More than 6,700 students had their vision screened and over 1,800 families received free glasses.
State Schools' Relief manages and delivers the program and helps to remove vision impairment as a barrier to learning. More than 8,600 students have received free glasses through the program since 2015, following more than 48,000 screenings.
By supporting students with undiagnosed vision impairments, Glasses for Kids is helping students achieve their best at school and beyond.
This real cost of living relief is on top of the ongoing support delivered by the Labor Government - including free school breakfasts, free dental checkups with Smile Squad, free swimming lessons and free pads and tampons in government schools, and more.
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll
"From free glasses to free dental checkups and free breakfasts, we're providing real cost of living relief to families with schoolkids."
"Unlike the Liberals, who cut $1 billion from education and even cut Fresh Fruit Fridays, we're making sure students get the best start in life through programs like Glasses for Kids."
As stated by Member for Sunbury Josh Bull
"So many students in Gladstone Park will benefit from this program, which saves families money and helps kids get the best education."
