EduKids: Making Education More Accessible
One week before applications open for the WA State Government’s Student Assistance Payment initiative, children’s charity Variety WA is offering a fantastic option for the payment scheme that calls on empathy and benevolence in difficult times.
Not every family is in need of the financial help that will be available under this new payment scheme and may prefer to donate it to a child in need. For people wishing to make a difference -Variety WA has the solution.
Variety WA has expanded its annual EduKids Grants program to allow the Student Assistance Payments to be donated directly to a child who needs it. Those donating their payments will make a real difference to the ability of recipients to participate in school.
Running for the past four years, EduKids funding goes directly to schools to allocate to children experiencing disadvantage. The schools must only spend the funding on approved items and the program is measured, and reported on to ensure every dollar helps a child get access to the tools needed to attend and participate in school.
Variety’s EduKids Grants are a long-term statewide education grant designed to offer practical assistance for Western Australian (WA) kids with the cost of back-to-school equipment.
In 2023, Variety WA supported 100 government primary schools and 60 government high schools or one fifth of public schools across the state. Applicant schools could receive up to $1,500 per primary school and $2,500 per high school with the requirement to assist a minimum of ten students each with the costs of uniforms, school bags, textbooks, booklist items.
Schools are a unique community player in that they have a good understanding of the key local challenges and they are aware of those children that may be experiencing hardship. By partnering with the Department of Education we were able to work together with WA schools to help identify the children who would benefit the most from the EduKids grants and ensure trackable results and targeted funding. We know the funding is actually being spent on the students for specific school items that they require to participate in class.
We offer EduKids grants to schools every year. Primary school children from applicant schools are eligible to receive $150 and high school children can receive up to $250 each. Eligible items include school bags, water bottles or lunchboxes, textbooks, booklist and uniform items and schools must demonstrate which items were purchased and assist a minimum of 10 students with the grant.
EduKids empowers each school to determine what is most needed in their specific community; whether that is stationary packs for new primary school students or purchasing some uniforms so all students can feel included in the school community. The grants level the playing field and reduce some of the back-to-school financial pressures experienced by some families.
There are more than 800 government schools in WA and If we could offer the same level of funding to every public school in the state each and every year it would only cost about less than $1.3 million. Variety is endeavouring to secure more funding support to expand the program on an ongoing basis as currently the need is far greater than our current resources allow. Demand for our assistance has increased 48% in the last 12 months and with the cost-of-living crisis this will only increase in coming years. If the local business leaders in each community came together to support EduKids we could easily raise the required amount every year.
Applications for EduKids will reopen toward the end of 2024, and it is timed specifically to coincide with the start of the school year for maximum benefit to students.
Help the children who need it most and donate your Student Assistance Payment.
For more information about how Variety supports children to achieve their potential, call 08 9355 3655 or email [email protected].
