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    BUSY: Lowes Horsham manager Nikita Bradshaw has seen many families take advantage of the State Government’s one-off School Savings Bonus $400 payment for students’ uniforms, plus stationery and activities. Picture: BRONWYN HASTINGS

Financial bonus for school families

Families with children enrolled in Victorian government schools have automatically received a one-off $400 payment for each student, to cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks and school activities this year.

The School Saving Bonus, also available to eligible students at private schools, is accessible to parents via a unique code, for school activities and instore and online purchases at predetermined suppliers, including Horsham’s Lowes and Shelton and Lane Stationery.

Horsham’s Lowes manager Nikita Bradshaw said her store stocks uniforms for Horsham West and Haven, and Horsham primary schools, and St Brigid’s and Horsham colleges, along with generic navy blue and grey shorts used at other schools.

“We have year-round uniform – we always stock summer and winter uniforms, along with library bags, hats, school bags and art smocks for selected schools,” she said.



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“It’s astronomical how busy we’ve been since the funding rolled out, and Shelton and Lane Stationery would be noticing it as well.

“There are so many families whose children have always had second-hand supplies and hand-me-downs, who are now able to buy a new uniform for the first time.

“The beginning of the school year is always exciting, but that brings a different sort of atmosphere.”

Ms Bradshaw said people could spend their allocation in one or several transactions.

“People have until the end of June to spend the voucher in-store before it is automatically transferred to their school accounts for activities,” she said.

Activities are specific to schools and include items such as excursions and camps. 

Families will receive a transaction receipt from the Department of Education confirming purchases, allowing people to keep record of the remaining balance.

The School Saving Bonus can be transferred to a sibling if one child finishes school, and transferred between government schools if students move to a new school.

People can also elect to donate their allocated funding to their school for others students’ use. 

More information about the bonus is available online at www.vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus.