As families start to get ready for the school year ahead, CatholicCare’s School Savvy CQ program is back again and stepping up to help with the financial stress of back-to-school preparations.
Starting on Monday January 13 pop-up shops around the Bundaberg Region will open their doors to offer affordable school stationery supplies, pre-loved school uniforms and free basic back-to-school haircuts.
“A lot of families definitely feel the budget pinch this time of year, and having to spend hundreds of dollars per child on new uniforms and expensive stationery can be a really tough task,” said Shari Jackson, CatholicCare’s General Manager for Health & Wellbeing.
School Savvy CQ is a program designed to lighten the financial load.
“This year we’ll open our pop-up shops across Bundaberg, Gin Gin and Childers during the week beginning January 13,” Shari said.
“We’ve been running the School Savvy program here for the last six years now, and the community response is just phenomenal every year.
“Families can come to our pop-up shops and get the basic school items they need for well under what it would cost them in a standard retail shop.
“Our prices generally range between one to five dollars.
“The goal is to make sure that every child has the opportunity to start the school year with the confidence, pride and resources that their classmates have.”
Bundaberg’s School Savvy pop-up shop will open at the Showgrounds in the Recreational Precinct on January 13 at 8 am and be open throughout the week until January 17.
Gin Gin’s pop-up shop will open at Gin Gin State School on January 14 from 9 am and Childers at the Isis State High School Sport Stadium on January 16 from 8 am.
“A huge thanks must go to our local School Savvy sponsors and supporters too,” Shari said.
“It’s really their incredibly generous support that helps us continue to bring School Savvy to local families.
“Special mention to our Gold Sponsors, The Waves Sports Club and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, who we are grateful to have continuing support from in 2025.”
School Savvy pop-up shops are open to the public and do not have an eligibility criteria. Availability of free haircuts is based on qualified volunteers and will vary.
For more information, find School Savvy CQ on Facebook.
