Australians struggling to afford sending children back to school

As students gear up to return to their classrooms, Australia's back-to-school purchases are set to generate $2.5 billion for retailers. But 30 per cent of families are struggling to pay for essential equipment like stationery and uniforms.

Six-year-old Kaya Atayman walks with his mother Famona and four-year-old brother Arly to school in the suburb of Bondi on May 25, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Students in New South Wales return to regular lessons today, after a week of staggered lessons, as COVID-19 restrictions ease across Australia. Source: Getty / David Gray