State Schools’ Relief has received a $2 million government funding package to provide immediate support to Victorian students affected by the recent bushfires.
The state and federal governments have jointly funded the ‘Getting Kids Back to School’ initiative. Funds will be available for students whose family has been financially impacted during the current bushfire season to cover the cost of uniforms, books, stationery and any other essential items required for school.
It is estimated that 300 homes were lost this bushfire season in Victoria, with approximately 600 children affected.
Children who are eligible to receive the funding include government school students in 15 targeted municipalities whose families have been impacted by loss of family home, loss of income through volunteering to fight bushfires or loss of livelihood or income caused by bushfires.
Municipalities include Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Indigo, Mansfield, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga
“At State Schools’ Relief (SSR), with the support of the state government, we are proud to be able to offer support to families who have been affected by the recent bushfire crisis. At SSR, we would like students to feel that they are supported to attend school with all of the items that they need,” said State Schools’ Relief CEO Sue Karzis.
For more information, please click here.
Teachers can also submit applications on behalf of bushfire affected students by clicking here.
Established in 1930, State Schools’ Relief is a Victorian based not for profit organisation that supports the needs of financially disadvantaged school students by providing them with new school uniforms, footwear and educational resources during times of vulnerability. In 2018/19, State Schools’ Relief assisted over 56,000 children and young people in need, with the number and value of items distributed exceeding 210,000 and $6.3 million respectively.
