Heading back to school with new shoes, new uniforms and new books is supposed to be an exciting time for children.
But according to Australian charities, the start of a new school year is becoming an increasingly stressful event for families.
With the first day of term only weeks away, welfare groups are predicting a rise in the number of parents seeking help to equip their kids with the basics.
State Schools Relief is a charity which has been operating in Victoria for more than 80 years. It offers school shoes and uniforms to families struggling to provide for their child's education.
Its CEO, David Schmidt, says in the past 12 months his organisation has had a 26 per cent increase in applications for assistance.
“In Victoria particularly the economic downturn started with the drought and really the impact of that hasn't subsided yet,” he said.
“That was followed by the bushfires and then the floods also. So we've had a whole range of things in the rural communities that have impacted on people.
“There's been a slowdown in retail and manufacturing, the disposable income of families has dropped off, so we've had less casual work, mums not getting the work they had before, and that really impacts on what families can do with their finance.”
Mr Schmidt says it is not just Victorian families who are struggling.
He says with mortgage rates, housing inaffordability and other financial pressures, even families who would not previously have needed assistance are finding it hard to meet the most basic education costs.
He says his organisation aims to boost the self-esteem of students belonging to “poor families”.
“We do good quality stuff, we don't have any poor quality material going to disadvantaged kids,” he said.
“The idea is to have them looking the same as everyone else in the school, so they're not bullied because they're poor.
“We had a 14-year-old girl not long ago in a rural school who was not coming to school. The welfare coordinator got to her and found out it was a uniform issue. So that afternoon the mum went up and picked up the clothes and the girl was back at school the next day.”
'Urgent support'
Other charities, like St Vincent de Paul Society and The Smith Family, are also forecasting a rise in demand for assistance as children head back to school.
“The additional cost of purchasing school uniforms, shoes, pencil cases, lunch boxes and other school essentials can be crippling for those families already doing it tough,” Julie McDonald from St Vincent de Paul Society said.
“Many families will find it impossible to ensure that their children have what they need to begin a new year of learning.”
The Smith Family, who provides financial assistance for education essentials as well as access to learning support programs, says it is a time when families and children need “urgent support”.
Dr Barbara Spears from the University of South Australia, who specialises in school bullying, says having the right clothing and equipment certainly affects a child's self-esteem.
“Bullying is about acceptance and rejection, based upon an intolerance of difference and the notion of power, and how one looks and what is worn is one component of that,” she said.
But Dr Spears says ultimately, the power of school bullying runs far deeper.
“The argument about wearing uniforms to make all kids appear the same, and feel good about themselves, is an old one, but does not take into account that when out of uniform, the difference can be really apparent,” she said.
“That is, providing good uniforms and shoes will avert some of the problem at the superficial level, but it cannot change the ways that peers accept or reject others. It is always about power, who has it and who doesn't.”
Mr Schmidt says State Schools Relief recognises that it is not just the outer wear that makes children feel confident and comfortable at school.
He says his charity also assists families in sending their children on school camps and excursions.