Parents can no longer use the $400 bonus for uniforms and textbooks after June 30

However, uniform retailers reported that some families have stocked school uniforms before the change in Tuesday’s program, created a force for materials and worries how much retailer will do in the future.

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Patricia Robinson, who operates B-RC stores in Wodonga and Myrtleford, said that some families bought them up to a year because they need.

“My families bought six bodies for their children, but then they were buying eight sizes, because they had money to do it,” he said.

B-CUT sells uniforms for about 20 Victorian schools.

Robinson said that the stock scarcity caused him to apologize to displeased customers.

“’Look, we’re doing our best. We didn’t stay in stock and our supplier is not in stock,’ he said. “We had to do this just to keep our customer relations strong.”

Retailer Bob Stewart sells uniforms for about 60 public schools.

Director Francis Stewart said that trade has increased noticeable before the changes in the program.

“There is an element I have $ 400 and I want to spend it,” he said. “Then there was a little stocking by families who put something in the closet.”

Like Robinson, he said it would make it difficult to predict how the stocking of uniforms would be in the future.

Brunella school clothing owner Elissa May, the biggest demand for primary school uniforms, he said.

May, “Even our winter items were sold because we had to order so far,” he said.

He said that uniform sales should be managed to ensure that parents only buy what they need, and any extras were ordered.

Mayan If a child goes out with five T -shirts, he would chew your stock very quickly because one child would go out with two or three without coupons, ”May said.

The school savings bonus announced in the 2024 state budget provided $ 400 for each of Victoria’s 700,000 public school students.

‘We are not in stock and our supplier is not in stock.’

Patricia Robinson

Within the scope of the program, families were able to nominate their bonuses between uniforms, textbooks or school activities.

On Tuesday, any uniforms and textbook money will pass to the school accounts of families and meet the cost of school activities such as trips, swimming lessons and camps.

Parents have spent $ 76.6 million and $ 32.3 million in school activities since the program launched last November.

However, the program made a shaky start, while delaying the distribution of access codes to some parents, the late invoice payments left at least two stores from their pockets for more than a month after sending invoices to the training department.

The government announced that the plan of 280 million dollars in the state budget of May will not be renewed.

Opposition training spokesman Jess Wilson said the program was unequal and designed badly.

“In many cases, this payment has created more problems than solved, and it did not leave a permanent benefit for families who faced increasing education costs,” he said.

Minister of Education Ben Carroll drew attention to other programs for students such as free public transport, vision scanning, dental controls and school breakfast.

“We know that parents are forcing it – and we’re with them,” he said.

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