Barwon Education Expenses Project

The project will address disadvantage in the Barwon region by helping low income families with essential public education costs. Support will be given to primary and secondary students who are at serious risk of non-attendance and disengagement with schooling, family, and community. Low income families are often forced to choose between providing accommodation and food, or education costs. The project will help cover expenses such as uniforms and text books or e-book fees; enabling students to continue their education with a sense of peer equality, personal self-esteem and an ability to obtain the same quality of education as other students.

In Australia research by The Mitchell Institute in 2015 showed links between education, school completion, positive outcomes for health, employment and housing stability, it showed… socio-economic disadvantage has a greater impact on educational opportunity than any other factor….. Socio-economically disadvantaged students, have lower attendance at school, often leave school earlier, and are less likely to go to university. Disadvantages persist beyond school, with reduced chances of finding full-time work and being in education and training”.

The Barwon education expense project will help local children from low-income families avoid the problems detailed above and reduce the likelihood of them experiencing disadvantage.