When it comes to end-of-year teacher gifts, the verdict from Australian teachers is loud and clear: ditch the mugs and go collective.

According to a new survey of 143 teachers conducted in Australia by GroupTogether, a whopping 88 per cent prefer receiving a single class gift rather than 25 individual presents.

Teachers Reveal Their Best (And Worst) Gifts: “Please No More Mugs!”

As the end of the school year approaches, GroupTogether set out to find out what teachers really like for their thank you gifts.

When teachers were asked to rank gift types by what they’d most like from parents, the leading choice was a gift card (69.23 %), followed by a card (17.5 %) - yes, the humble card still wins. And why? Because teachers say they treasure a physical message written by students alongside a gift they can actually use.

Ali Linz, Co-Founder of GroupTogether, sums it up: “Teachers don’t need 25 candles or even a reusable coffee mug. They want a heartfelt keepsake paired with something they’ll actually use. A gift card from the whole class and a card that each child signs is something they treasure. GroupTogether makes it super easy to do both of these in one. It’s better for everyone.”

On the flip side, teachers were pretty blunt about what they least want to receive. Among the “worst” gifts: “Six mugs at one Christmas time…I don’t have the space”, “Anything with ‘World’s Best Teacher’ on it!!”, and even “Earrings (I don’t have my ears pierced) and alcohol (I don’t drink).” Ouch.

Why Class Group Gifting Works

Here’s some compelling data: on average, families chip in about $26 per child for a class gift via GroupTogether. Even a class of 20 kids quickly adds up to a meaningful sum, and that means a gift that truly counts, rather than a collection of small, forgettable items.

GroupTogether data shows families arranging joint teacher gifts find it more efficient, more appreciated by educators and less chaotic for parents.

As Ali Linz says, “Let’s retire the mug. One class gift, one gorgeous card and a teacher who actually feels appreciated.” With GroupTogether, parents can sign a class card (with optional small contributions) easily online. Yes, it’s that simple.

Your teacher will love the beautiful messages and pictures on the card, and the whole team is included (chipping in is optional!)

If you’re a busy parent or a co-ordinator for a class, now’s the time to get started with gift planning, and GroupTogether offers the kind of end-of-year gesture that stands out.

What Is GroupTogether?

GroupTogether is a female-founded Aussie start-up that makes it super simple for everyone to give a beautiful card and gift. It's the stress-free solution to gift-giving created by two mums who knew the struggle all too well. With seven kids between them, Ali and Julie spent way too much time organising gifts and chasing signatures. Then they had a lightbulb moment and launched a simple website to take the hassle out of it.

With GroupTogether, you can create a beautiful digital thank you card that everyone can sign online - and even collect money for a gift at the same time. Parents just click a link to add their messages, photos, or GIFs. Then, when it’s ready, you can print it as a keepsake or send it digitally.

No chasing, no tracking, no stress, so you go from overwhelmed to organised in minutes and give your kid’s teacher a thank you they’ll love!

Why Over 1 Million Aussies Love GroupTogether

• It's a super easy way to collect money for a gift and create a group card all in one
• Unlimited messages on the card and unlimited message length
• Just share a link, and parents click to add a message and photo/GIF online
• Choose from thousands of customisable card designs (including photo upload)
• Download the card as a PDF to print, or schedule to send digitally
• Local customer support - live chat on the GroupTogether website
• Over 2,900 five-star reviews on Trustpilot
• Give the AnyCard and let the teacher choose from 70+ eGift Cards, including Woollies, JB HiFi, Rebel Sport, Apple, The ICONIC, BCF, Myer, David Jones & more

With GroupTogether, saying thank you is effortless, meaningful, and fun! Get started at GroupTogether and make your next thank you gift a breeze.

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