The lead up to the new school year has been a stressful time for Paul Mee and his partner.
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The couple has forked out money for school fees, laptops, uniforms, musical instruments, camps, books, excursions and more for their two children's education - to the tune of $3000.
Mr Mee recently had to quit his part-time job to care for his daughter and partner, who have disabilities.
The financial demands of this school year were too great for him to manage on his budget, leading him to apply for an interest-free loan from Bendigo Family and Financial Services.
Mr Mee says his story is a common one.
"Everyone I know stresses about school costs, whether it's private or a public school," he says.
"It's hard for all of us, for everyone I know.
"It's a huge hit after Christmas, it's something you have to budget for."
Indeed, Bendigo Salvation Army social program director Janet White says the start of the school year often involves an increase in people presenting to emergency food relief services.
She says some parents will forgo essentials, such as food, to ensure their children have all the necessary school items.
"There are a lot of implications socially for kids," she says.
"It's great for kids if their parents can afford it but what if your parents can't afford it?"
- Janet White, Salvation Army
"It's great for kids if their parents can afford it but what if your parents can't afford it?"
This year parents will not be able to apply for the Education Maintenance Allowance, a one-off payment to help low income families pay for additional school expenses, such as swimming lessons, which was scrapped by the previous Victorian government.
And with an increasing focus on online learning, even parents of primary school children now have to hire notebooks and other devices to keep pace.
Bendigo Family and Financial Services general manager Jenny Elvey says many parents fret about the demands of educational requirements.
"They're not sure how they're going to get school uniforms, the book lists," she says.
The demands can become so great that many people who thought they could manage find themselves taking out urgent loans the week before school returns.
"They're still struggling to get over Christmas," she says.
"A lot of schools have excursions at the start of the year and that has to be paid for upfront.
"It's not just the uniform, it's everything that goes with it.
"It's become a very expensive prospect for parents to get their children through schooling."
But she says her organisation's No Interest Loans Scheme, which offers loans of between $300 - $1200 to low income earners to pay for essential items, can provide people with a tremendous help.
Indeed, Kellie, who didn't want her surname published, says the NILS loan she took out provided a "massive relief".
While in the past she has bought secondhand shoes and uniforms for her three primary school-aged children, this year she was able to buy them "good quality" products.
"I've got three children and it's basically just a fresh start to the year - with uniforms, a new school bag, lunch box, haircut and all that sort of stuff," she says.
"It is stressful. I’ve had my car registration due so on top of everyone else so it’s definitely an expensive time of the year.”
But while school expenses can add up, Ms Elvey says most parents would rather scrimp and sacrifice than have their children miss out on extracurricular activities.
Indeed, Eaglehawk North Primary School assistant principal John Morton says the school does its best to ensure all students can participate.
"There will always be some families that find it difficult - what we do to help is offer flexible payment options," he says.
But he says the school's fees are low compared to other schools and it was rare for students not to attend excursions due to the cost.
"We're pretty selective about what we commit to, to not overburden people too much," he says.
School council president Robert Filcock says while costs certainly add up, on the whole the Victorian public education system offered good value for money.
"It is a fairly reasonable price to get your kids educated," he says.
He says Eaglehawk North offers payment plans to parents struggling with expenses and tries its best to ensure no child misses out on opportunities.
"You don't want to say to a child, 'you can't come on an excursion'.
"We'll do what we can to make sure all kids can come.
"If you chose to send your child to a state school the school would ensure all children have an ability to learn."
Indeed, both Paul Mee and Kellie say their respective schools are supportive to parents facing financial difficulties.
Mr Mee advises parents to "just talk to the schools" if they can't make payments, as they are often happy to help.
He says Bendigo South East College, which his oldest daughter attends, will this year allow parents to pay their school fees in installments, in response to cuts to the education maintenance allowance.
And a chaplain at his daughter's primary school has previously connected Mr Mee to services during times of need.
“It’s about asking for help and sometimes with things like Centrelink it’s about demanding their help," Mr Mee says.
However, while help is available, it doesn't change the fact that education in Victoria doesn't come cheaply.
John Morton says book lists, excursions, uniforms and all the extras that come with schooling can take a toll on parents with limited income.
"For free state education, it's free in name only."