Materials for disadvantaged VCE students

This year is looking to be a particularly tough one for VCE students and candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds find themselves behind the eight ball further still.

As VCE students transition to a distance education model, many underprivileged students who do not have access to a laptop or even the internet at home, are at risk of slipping through the cracks in their final, and most important year of study.

In response to this issue, State Schools’ Relief has redirected their funds from providing uniforms, shoes and bags to providing the below, with priority given to at-risk year 12 students to minimise the risk of them slipping through the cracks during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Lenovo 11E laptops (in line with DET specifications). Applications for these devices will be received for students in Year 12 from targeted schools who have no access to a device in the first instance. Dependent upon demand, the devices will then be offered to other year levels.
• Internet USBs with 50GB of data per month (for 3 months). Applications for these USBs will only be received for students who have no access to home internet.
• Study packages comprising of a desk and chair (suitable for secondary students).
• Standard stationery package for primary and secondary students.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year 12 graduates are more likely to work in higher skilled occupations and have greater lifetime earnings compared to non-graduates, who are more likely to experience unemployment and be dependent on government welfare benefits.