Financial boost for school students

MORE than 350 Back to School vouchers have been distributed by the Stand Like Stone Foundation this year to public primary and area schools in the Limestone Coast thanks to generous donations from local people and businesses.

The $50 vouchers are given to families to assist with the purchase of essential school items such as uniforms, clothing, shoes, school bags and stationery – items necessary for children to engage and participate at school.

SLSF chairperson Georgie McKay said the Back to School program made a real difference to families and was more than a $50 gift, enabling children to attend school with dignity, fit in with their peers and experience the sense of excitement that comes with a new backpack, pair of shoes, pencil case or drink bottle.

“The Back to School program has proven to have significant impacts on children’s attitudes to attending and being engaged at school and for many students having a new shirt or jumper for school means they ‘fit in’ and have a sense of belonging,” Ms McKay said.

Stand Like Stone will be calling for donations to continue the Back to School program at the end of 2025 and in the lead up to the start of the 2026 school year.

“We are encouraging communities to think about ways to support the Back to School program for their local schools,” Ms McKay said.

Since its inception in 2005, Stand Like Stone’s Back to School program has distributed over $685,000 worth of vouchers across the Limestone Coast thanks to the support of the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and local donors.