This January, 1.3 million Australian families will be receiving the SchoolKids Bonus, a payment of $410 for every primary school child and $820 for every secondary school child. 

This January, 1.3 million Australian families will be receiving the SchoolKids Bonus, a payment of $410 for every primary school child and $820 for every secondary school child.

The payment is made at the start of Terms one and three to help cover the cost of items such as stationery, textbooks, software, laptops, iPads, bags, uniforms and shoes.

The SchoolKids Bonus also can help cover the cost of school camps, excursions and extracurricular activities such as music lessons.

However, the Abbott Government has introduced legislation to scrap the SchoolKids Bonus, which will affect more than 7000 families in Newcastle.  

If this legislation passes the Senate, the January SchoolKids Bonus payment will be their last.

Sharon Claydon said that since 2012, the SchoolKids Bonus has delivered much needed relief for low and middle income families struggling to meet the costs of their kids’ education.

“Every one of these families will be worse off when the Schoolkids Bonus is scrapped.”

“For instance, the average family with two kids will be $1,230 worse off every year and $15,000 worse off over the life of their children’s education.”

“This is a savage cut from a Government that clearly doesn’t care about Australian families or our kids’ education” Ms Claydon said.