These formal submissions have been compiled by ICPA (Aust) on behalf of rural and remote students and their educational needs.
Submission to the Department of Education on the Updated Inclusion Support Program (ISP) Guidelines
ICPA (Aust) welcomes the proposed expansion of the Inclusion Support Program to meet additional needs of children in Centre-Based Day Care but it should be further expanded to include geographically isolated children with additional needs cared for by In Home Care Educators, and to those children receiving an approved Kindergarten/Preschool program delivered by distance education in rural and remote areas.
Submission to the Department of Education on the Updated Inclusion Support Program (ISP) Guidelines
Consumer Safeguards Review Consultation - Part B Reliability of Services January 2019
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia, ICPA (Aust), welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Consumer Safeguards Review Consultation – Part B Reliability of Services.
Internet connectivity is a key factor in providing students living in geographic isolation with access to curriculum opportunities and extra-curricular endeavours. Access to reliable and adequate internet must be a priority to ensure these students have educational opportunity.
Consumer Safeguards Review Consultation - Part B Reliability of Services January 2019
Vocational Education and Training Review January 2019
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia, ICPA (Aust), welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Vocational Education and Training Review with issues relevant to rural and remote students and recommendations for consideration to ensure equity of access to the Vocational Education and Training system for rural and remote students.
ICPA (Aust) believes engaging in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector should be an option to pursue for all young Australians who have the ability, ambition and motivation to succeed in an apprenticeship or training vocation, regardless of their socio-economic status or geographic location.
Vocational Education and Training Review January 2019
National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy Submission January 2019
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia, ICPA (Aust), welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the development of the National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy and highlight key issues and challenges raised by ICPA members concerning access to tertiary and training education for rural and remote students.
ICPA (Aust) believes engaging in tertiary education at an institution of their choice and in vocational education and training (VET), should be an option for all Australian students who have the ability, ambition, motivation and desire to pursue their goals and succeed regardless of their socio-economic status or geographic location.
National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy Submission January 2019
Pre-Budget Submission 2019-2020
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia, ICPA (Aust), is pleased to provide several recommendations for consideration in the 2019-20 budget to contribute to achieving equity of educational opportunity for children and students living in rural and remote regions, thus ensuring they have access to a continuing and appropriate education determined by their aspirations rather than their location.
Improving the educational outcomes for rural and remote students requires a nation-wide approach to ensure national consistency no matter where education is provided. The financial cost to families educating children in these locations continues to rise and the loss of many families from these areas can be attributed to the cost and difficulties of accessing education.
Pre-Budget Submission 2019-2020
Remote Area Tax Concessions and Payments Productivity Commission Review 2019
In October 2018, ICPA (Aust) wrote to Federal Treasurer, the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP expressing our members’ concern regarding the Fringe Benefit Tax that is placed on rural employers who assist with necessary boarding school costs for children of employees in order to retain skilled staff in rural and remote areas. The Hon. Stuart Robert MP, Federal Assistant Minister, replied to our request suggesting that ICPA (Aust) consider putting forth the information around this issue into a submission for the Productivity Commission Review into Remote Area Tax Concessions and Payments.
Remote Area Tax Concessions and Payments Productivity Commission Review 2019
Medicare Benefits Schedule Taskforce Review comments June 2019
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia, ICPA (Aust), welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Report of the Allied Health Reference Group: Review of the Allied Health MBS items.
ICPA recommends that a Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item number be allocated to speech pathology consultations by telehealth, not just for severe speech disorders, but also for any speech disorders which will affect education and wellbeing if left untreated.
Medicare Benefits Schedule Taskforce Review comments June 2019
Submission Review of Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians - June 2019
ICPA (Aust) has lodged a submission into the Review of the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians.
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia, ICPA (Aust), expects that the national aspiration declaration on Australian Education will consider all groups of students and their educational needs, regardless of where they live or how difficult it may be for them to access an education due to factors such as geographic isolation.
Submission Review of Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians - June 2019
Submission to the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Extend Family Assistance to ABSTUDY Secondary School Boarding Students Aged 16 and Over) Bill
ICPA (Aust) supports the proposed expansion of the Family Tax Benefit Part B to families whose student is 16-19 years of age and receiving ABSTUDY as it means an improved situation for these rural and remote students to address the anomaly in the current legislation which has meant this has not been the case.
Please find below ICPA (Aust) submission and the report handed down by the Senate, Community Affairs Legislation Committee. To have the report published alongside the submission lodged by ICPA (Aust) gives members key insight into the findings that the submission process brought.
Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Building on the Child Care Package) Bill 2019 Provisions
Submission on the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Building on the Child Care Package) Bill 2019
Accessing child care in geographically isolated areas is fraught with difficulties due to the distance away from regulated child care services. In Home Care is the only viable alternative for rural and remote families. Some states, in particular South Australia, still do not provide In Home Care to remote families which effectively prevents both parents earning an income on the property or accessing off-farm income, necessary in this extended drought.
