Supporting her son, Tom*, through his final year of school had been a roller coaster, and Kris* and Tom were happy when the final exam was finished. Now they could concentrate on enjoying the school Presentation Night, where Tom and his friends would be recognised for their hard work, and parents like Kris could get together and just feel proud.
The school years had been tough for single mum Kris. Only able to work part-time due to health issues and parenting responsibilities, money was tight. Most of her income went on rent and food, and she had struggled to pay bills and for other costs associated with having an adolescent child. She couldn’t remember when she had last bought an item of clothing for herself, and her family had never had a holiday.
When Presentation Night bookings opened up on the school app, Kris saw that they were $30 each – and that cost put them out of reach for Kris.
When she called CSMC, Kris was upset and angry. Her son deserved to graduate with his friends – why should he be punished for his family’s financial situation?
Unfortunately, it’s a story we often hear at CSMC. In a country that prides itself on free education for all, the cost of education – when you take in uniforms, school supplies, camps and excursions – can be simply unaffordable for some single mother families. While ‘curriculum contributions’ that cover necessary curriculum items and activities for the student to undertake education are voluntary contributions, it’s the ‘extra-curricular activities’ that a school is allowed to ask parents to pay for.
In Kris’s case, this included Presentation Night. Tom was going to graduate regardless of whether his mum attended; the Presentation Night was something extra, a special evening the school put on so families could celebrate their children’s achievements. It was at a hall separate from the school and it was catered. These were expenses beyond the school’s core funding and they needed to be paid for.
What to do if you cannot afford to pay for an extra-curricular activity
The Department of Education outlines clear instructions for dealing with situations like Kris and Tom’s.
1: Know your rights. Many single mothers still don’t understand that curriculum contributions are in fact voluntary and some don’t understand that there are programs that can help pay for things like camps and excursions.
Find out more about school payments here.
Find out more about the Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF) here.
2: Speak to the school. Most disputes can be resolved at this point. In the vast majority of cases, schools want kids to participate in school activities and will do what they can to facilitate this. If you feel anxious about advocating for yourself, you are entitled to bring a support person with you.
Find out more about financial assistance for school families here.
3: Escalate if needed. If you are unhappy with the school’s response, parents have an additional opportunity for resolution by contacting the department’s central office.
Find out more about dispute resolution here.
Kris was nervous about contacting the school and explaining her situation, but she was glad she did. The school counsellor treated her with dignity and respect and in a few days contacted Kris, telling her the school would cover the cost of her ticket to Presentation Night. They also congratulated her on raising such a wonderful son.
Meeting the cost of education
Every year, CSMC puts together our ‘Meeting the Cost of Education‘ guide, which is a must-have resource for all single mums with kids at school. It is full of advice, information, and links to programs and organisations can really help keep down the cost of education our kids. Check out the 2025 guide here.
*Names have been changed.
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