February 2011     A new Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) survey reveals the total schooling costs bill for parents of children born in 2011. For the first time, the future schooling costs estimates compare the costs for children attending school in metropolitan areas and regional areas.

These estimates were calculated from education costs information ASG's Member parents supplied about more than 8000 children nationally from preschool to secondary school in metropolitan and regional areas, which were overseen by an independent market research organisation and statistician.

ASG's General Manager Development, Ms Frida Kordovoulos said she believes the survey is one of the largest of its kind and provides rich and robust data. "The new schooling cost estimates show parents of children attending school in regional areas reap significant benefits in terms of costs when compared to those in metropolitan areas," she said.

National Total Schooling Costs for a Child Born in 2011 - Metropolitan compared to Regional Costs

• The survey shows parents living in metropolitan areas can expect to pay up to $80,000 if they choose a government education setting for their children¡¦s future schooling, $217,000 for systemic (eg Catholic) schooling or up to $415,000 for private schooling.
• Whereas parents living in regional areas experience reduced costs of up to $68,000 if they choose a government education setting, $165,000 for systemic (eg Catholic) schooling or up to $303,000 for private schooling.

National 2011 School Year Costs

Preschool 2011

• Nationally, preschool in 2011 will cost up to $4945 in a government preschool and up to $11,626 in a non-government facility (note, there is no metropolitan and regional breakdown for this stage of schooling).

Primary School 2011 - Metropolitan compared to Regional Costs

• The bill for parents of primary school children living in metropolitan areas amounted up to $4002 for government primary school, $6401 for systemic (eg Catholic) schooling, and $12,917 per year for private schooling.
• These amounts compared to the regional costs for primary schooling of up to $3614 for government primary schooling, $5466 for systemic (eg Catholic) schooling and up to $9015 for the 2011 school year at a private primary school.

Secondary School 2011 - Metropolitan compared to Regional Costs

• Parents of secondary school children in metropolitan areas nationally can expect to pay up to $4657 for government secondary schooling, $12,138 for systemic (eg Catholic) schooling, and up to $20,888 for private secondary schooling.
• In regional areas, the amounts are up to $4039 for government secondary schooling, $8993 for systemic (eg Catholic) schooling, and up to $16,272 in the 2011 school year at a private secondary school.
  (Note, national and state-based estimates for metropolitan and regional areas are available from ASG¡¦s website at: www.asg.com.au/edcosts)

"As parents, we dream of our children growing up to lead successful and fulfilling lives. We envisage a world in which our children have the opportunity to pursue their chosen career without limit. Quality schooling - whatever the schooling system of choice - can provide the path to these opportunities.

She continues: "Although nations across the world, including Australia, recognise the importance of education as the means to create prosperity into the future, Australian parents are being unrealistic if they believe that education is free today, and into the future. There is a total cost associated with schooling, which parents may overlook because they pay for the costs in small, incremental amounts, but the costs add up." Ms Kordovoulos said.

ASG's schooling estimates include the total costs of school, not just fees and levies. In addition to fees and levies, schooling costs include extracurricular costs, such as outings, camps, private tuition, music lessons, instruments, coaching, sport/gym/drama/art/dance classes and other costs for optional activities that create a rich school life for children; clothing, including all school and sports uniforms; necessities, such as stationery, textbooks, school bag, art and craft materials, sports and music equipment; travel costs; and all costs associated with computers and internet access.

"Parents who recognise the importance of saving for education and factor the total cost of schooling into their family budgets benefit considerably, as do those families who begin saving sooner rather than later," Ms Kordovoulos said.

Ms Kordovoulos encouraged parents of school-aged children to explore the range of government support initiatives for education, including the Australian Government's Education Tax Refund and the various state government rebates available in order to minimise the pressure on the family budget.

Parents wanting to explore the schooling costs for their children or the costs associated with various schooling settings are encouraged to use ASG's online education costs calculators available at www.asg.com.au/calculator

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