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Parents across Western Australia are preparing to send their children back to school, gathering supplies including books, new uniforms, laptops and stationary.
But as the cost of living soars, many are struggling to keep up. New data shows four out of five parents on lower incomes being supported by not-for-profit The Smith Family are worried about being able to afford everything their children need for the 2026 school year.
Rahmah Abdul Hameed with her husband, son Reda who is about to start year 11 and her daughter, Rafiqa, who is going into year 7.
Perth mother Rahmah Abdul Hameed’s son Reda is about to start year 11 and her daughter, Rafiqa, is starting her first year of high school.
They started receiving help from The Smith Family when Reda was in year 3, to help them pay for school supplies.
The cost of living has only gotten worse, Hameed said, and without help she would not have been able to afford to send her children to school.
“The costs of children going to high school are increasing significantly,” she said.
“Especially transition from primary school to high school. It will affect my budget to purchase a new set of uniforms, the increase in school fee from $50 to $250 and providing the new school items needed.
“There are lots of things that I have cut down when both kids are at school, especially buying take-away food, going to movies, going to places of interest such as AQWA, the museum, Scitech, the zoo and Adventure World.
“Although my children enjoyed going to these places, we cannot keep up with the admission fee as it will affect our daily expenses.”
The Smith Family chief executive Doug Taylor said the results of its recent survey were a timely reminder that cost-of-living pressures were exacerbating struggles for families already experiencing disadvantage, putting children at risk of falling behind and disengaging with their learning.
“From the moment students step through the school gate on their first day, not having the correct shoes or uniform can make them feel different and severely impact their confidence,” he said.
“Meanwhile, lack of access to items such as digital devices – which are now essential, particularly for high school – often leaves students unable to fully participate in their education today and locks them out of the workforce tomorrow.”
The Smith Family launched its 2026 Back to School Appeal on Thursday with the aim of securing more than 3500 new sponsors, so more children in need can access its flagship Learning for Life scholarship program.
WA needs 323 new sponsors, with 6441 Learning for Life students and 75 partner schools already signed up.
The organisation has also handed out 1557 laptops to families across the state in the past seven years, to help with learning needs.
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“It’s a sad fact that in Australia today, one in six children are growing up experiencing the effects of poverty which, as we know, has a negative impact on their ability to make the most of their education,” Taylor said.
“Research tells us that by year 9 a student who experiences disadvantage can be four to five years behind their peers in literacy and numeracy.
“The start of the school year is a pivotal time to set children up with the tools they need to make the most of their education.”
Hameed said The Smith Family’s support had helped lighten her burden.
“The Learning Club has helped my Rafiqa to have an experience to be with a tutor because I can’t afford to send her for extra classes. She has enjoyed the class and has learnt new things each week,” she said.
“My children feel they are not being left out and are able to feel a sense of belonging and pursue their dreams.”
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