ALMOST a third (30 per cent) of the $400 School Saving Bonus remains untouched and the state government encourages families to access the funding.

The Labor government’s School Saving Bonus provides cost of living relief to hundreds of thousands of families, who have so far saved more than $150 million on the costs of school essentials.

More than 700,000 transactions have been processed since the bonus was launched in November, with families saving more than $60 million on uniforms, $58 million on camps and excursions, and $31.8 million on textbooks.

Families have until 30 June to use the $400 School Saving Bonus to purchase uniforms or textbooks, either through approved suppliers or at second-hand uniform and textbook shops run by schools.

Any money unspent by this date will automatically transfer to a family’s school account, with parents able to use these remaining funds on school activities like camps, sports or excursions.

Non-government school families who have a healthcare or concession card are also eligible to receive the bonus.

These schools decide how to allocate the bonus to best accommodate their families and students.