The summer holidays are coming to an end with more than 177,000 students set to join their peers for the first day of school from Tuesday next week.
Public schools will stagger their starts over the week with more than 12,000 reception students beginning their school journey and another 14,000 in a public preschool.
To support South Australian families with school-aged children, the Malinauskas Labor Government is providing financial assistance to help cover a range of education related costs including digital access, breakfast programs and school supplies.
All families with children at public schools and who are required to pay the materials and services charge will benefit from a discount of $200 per child in 2026 – the second year this significant cost of living initiative has been passed onto families and double what was offered in recent years.
The discount was first introduced in 2022 to support families and will automatically be applied to the school invoice, with the prescribed amount for 2026 $306 for primary and $403 for secondary.
There is also significant support for low-income families who can qualify for a School Card which covers the total amount of the materials and services charge. Where the charge is less than the subsidy, the remaining funds can be applied to help with other costs such as uniforms, camps or excursions. Families with students in years 7 and 10 also have access to a free laptop as part of the scheme.
The eligibility income limits for the School Card have again increased for the 2026 school year. This year, the family income threshold has increased to $75,524 – up from $74,189 the year before.
Cost of living initiatives have been a priority for this government during the past four years with further financial assistance also offered through school breakfast programs, school camps and laptop programs giving families at 406 participating schools access to free or discounted devices, helping to save thousands of dollars on technology.
As put by Blair Boyer
Whether they are just beginning their school journey, or perhaps counting down the days until graduation, I know there will be a lot of excitement among South Australian students walking through the school gates next week.
The Malinauskas Labor Government is proud to be able to continue to provide financial support to families balancing their household bills with wanting to ensure their child has the best possible education.
As we head into the new school year, I urge all drivers to pay attention to the new speed zones around campuses so we can ensure the schooling journey is not just a happy one, but a safe one too.
