The first day of school is often a time of nerves for students - a new teacher, new classroom, different classmates - but imagine the tight ball of emotion felt by those children returning to school with next to nothing in their school bag.

They watch their classmates in new uniforms unpack all the right books, nicely covered. Their uniform or shoes don’t quite fit. They don’t have enough books or the right materials.

Nexus Care is there to help with their Back to School Packs.

Nexus Care programs coordinator, Bev Brown, said helping local students start the year on the right foot was important.

“(Back to School Packs are) just a relief for the parents,” Bev said.

“It’s a financial relief but it also helps the family feel better about sending their children to school with everything they need so they don’t stand out from their peers for having the wrong things.”

While Nexus Care has run breakfast clubs in local schools for a number of years, Bev said it was the second year Nexus Care was helping in this way.

“We work with school principals or chaplains in five Brisbane North schools who identify how many students need help and in what way, and we can step in. That might be new shoes, uniforms from the uniform shop, or paying for booklists,” she said.

“Schools are an avenue to support a community - if you support a school, it's a link to supporting the wider community and letting schools know we’re there to help.”

To help Nexus Care get local kids the best start in school, visit nexuscare.com.au/donate

Article by Jennifer Kerr, Nexus Care Advocate