A new survey from GroupTogether has revealed that 88 per cent of Australian teachers prefer one class gift over a pile of individual presents. The survey of 143 teachers found that gift cards were the runaway favourite, with nearly 70 per cent of respondents naming them their top pick, followed by a heartfelt class card at 17.5 per cent.
Chocolates or hampers came in at a distant third, while flowers, candles, and personalised items barely scraped a few per cent of the vote. GroupTogether Co-Founder Ali Linz said teachers want a heartfelt keepsake paired with something they'll actually use, not 25 candles or another reusable coffee cup.
On the flip side, some of the worst gifts included mugs, with one teacher recalling receiving six mugs at one Christmas time. Others mentioned earrings for someone without pierced ears, and alcohol for a non-drinker.
GroupTogether data shows families chip in an average of $26 per child, and when 20 students participate, that adds up to a seriously meaningful present. The platform lets families upload photos, GIFs, and unlimited messages, so every parent and child can share their thanks in one place.
Teachers agreed that sentiment counts most. One teacher said cards written by students are the best, while another appreciated a $50 gift card they could use anywhere. GroupTogether's AnyCard lets recipients choose from over 100 popular eGift cards, including Myer, Woolworths, JB Hi-Fi, The ICONIC, Apple, endota spa and Airbnb.
