You still have yearly fees even if you
PR or Citizen. We have to pay for building upgrades etc etc. However, the school use to tell us it was compulsary but we found out in January last year that it wasn't and it is illegal for the school to insisit the fees are paid. Here is an article in the Herald Sun
Anger over school fees | Herald Sun
Also there is no such thing as free pens/paper/books etc. Every Christmas you are given a list of what your child needs for the year, this includes excercise books, pens, pencils, art smocks, paints, and some text books. Ours usually comes out at around $150 per child for primary and from $250 - $500 for secondary. Unfortunately over here Christmas is a very expensive time, you have the above fees to pay, new uniform to buy, school holidays and Christmas.