Commonwealth Government Covid-19 Response Inquiry
ICPA (Aust) will be focused on addressing the impacts of COVID-19 governance on the education of rural and remote students, from early childhood education through to tertiary and training. ICPA (Aust) is pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry and look forward to the positive outcomes for rural and remote students, families and communities.
Commonwealth Government Covid-19 Response Inquiry
Pre-Budget Submission 2024-2025
ICPA (Aust) calls on the Federal Government to commit funds to:
1. An increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance of at least $4000.00 and alignment to the CPI Education:Sub Index.
2. An increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Distance Education Allowance and alignment to the CPI Education:Sub Index.
3. An increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Second Home Allowance and alignment to the CPI Education:Sub Index.
4. The extension of the AIC Distance Education Allowance to 3-4 year-old geographically isolated children accessing an approved distance education early learning program.
5. The implementation of a Distance Education Teaching Allowance (DETA) for geographically isolated distance education families.
6. Assured funding for rural and remote Mobile Early Learning Services.
7. An increase to the Commonwealth Living Away from Home Allowance (LAFHA) and alignment to the CPI.
8. The establishment of a Rural Hardship Education Fund (RHEF).
Pre-Budget Submission 2024-2025
Submission to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report
This submission reinforces ICPA (Aust) recommendations from ‘Submission to the Review of Australia’s Higher Education System’ highlighting the key issues and challenges faced by rural and remote tertiary students when accessing a tertiary or training education pathway in response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report.
Submission to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report
Submission to the Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System
Barriers and challenges for educating children in rural and remote locations result in these students’ educational outcomes and aspirations being less than that of their urban counterparts and can contribute to many families leaving rural and remote areas to provide their children with a more appropriate education.
Submission to the Review to Inform a Better and Fairer Education System
Request for ACMA to produce an Industry Standard on financial hardship
Many of our families live in locations with limited or no mobile coverage. Mechanisms need to be in place that ensure mobile services to those who may not otherwise receive mobile services is prioritised.
Request for ACMA to produce an Industry Standard on financial hardship
Mid-Year Budget Review Submission
ICPA (Aust) calls on the Federal Government to commit funds to:
1. An increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Allowances and alignment to the CPI Education: Sub Index.
2. The extension of the AIC Distance Education Allowance to 3–4-year-old geographically isolated children accessing an approved distance education early learning program.
3. The implementation of a Distance Education Teaching Allowance (DETA) for geographically isolated distance education families.
4. Assured funding for rural and remote Mobile Early Learning Services.
5. An increase to the Commonwealth Living Away from Home Allowance (LAFHA) and alignment to the CPI.
6. The establishment of a Rural Hardship Education Fund (RHEF).
Mid-Year Budget Review Submission
Productivity Commission Review of Early Childhood Education and Care
This submission seeks to highlight how inefficiencies and the lack of flexibility in current Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services available to rural and remote Australia lead to affordability and accessibility issues that produce ineffective programs creating inequities in the educational and developmental growth of children. In addition, the lack of effective service leads to workforce constraints inhibiting economic growth and productivity of rural and remote communities and industries.
Productivity Commission Review of Early Childhood Education and Care
National Vision for Early Childhood Education and Care Draft for consultation
A vision for and delivery of quality ECEC, specifically in rural and remote areas should be the backbone of equitable educational outcomes for geographically isolated children which would strengthen the economic and social vitality of families and communities across rural and remote Australia.
National Vision for Early Childhood Education and Care Draft for consultation
The Early Years Strategy Discussion Paper
Access to quality early childhood education is essential for optimal educational and developmental outcomes for all children in Australia, regardless of where they live. The lack of a specific rural and remote vision to deliver Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services to geographically isolated families significantly hinders the educational development of children living in these areas, and also stifles the growth and sustainability of communities and industries to which these families belong.
Every child deserves the opportunity for the best start to life to achieve their goals and dreams.
(The Early Years Strategy Discussion Paper Feb 2023, Foreword (Ministers)
The Early Years Strategy Discussion Paper
Submission to the Review of Australia’s Higher Education System
Rural and remote students must be afforded the choice, financial assistance, support and services to attend the university or training institution that delivers the course they have the ability, ambition, motivation and desire to pursue. ICPA (Aust)’s recommendations in this submission will ensure rural and remote tertiary and training students, who have disproportionately lower participation rates when compared to metropolitan students, equity of access to a tertiary or training pathway.
Submission to the Review of Australia’s Higher Education System
Submission to the Higher Education Standards Panel on the Developments in Higher Education Admission Practices
This submission highlights the key issues and challenges faced by rural and remote tertiary students navigating the Higher education admission process.
Submission to the Teacher Education Expert Panel Discussion Paper
ICPA (Aust) addresses key issues specifically related to initial teacher education, teachers and teaching in rural and remote Australia. Education providers must ensure the initial teacher education content delivered, both theoretical and practical, is contextually appropriate and that all teachers working in geographically isolated schools are specifically trained and prepared to teach this cohort.
Submission to the Teacher Education Expert Panel Discussion Paper
Submission to the Thematic Review of the Customer Service Guarantee (CSG)
There are ongoing concerns in the area of communications in rural and remote areas. ICPA (Aust) therefore supports retaining and upholding the current CSG framework, along with extending its protections across more services to ensure all consumers are protected.
Submission to the Thematic Review of the Customer Service Guarantee (CSG)
Submission to the Bank closures in regional Australia enquiry
It is important that small community groups such as local ICPA Branches, school Parents and Citizens Associations and other volunteer advocacy organisations are not faced with undue governance and operational issues due to banks withdrawing from their community without adequate alternative banking services and options in place.
Submission to the Bank closures in regional Australia enquiry
Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience Inquiry into Australia’s preparedness, response and recovery workforce models, as well as alternative models to disaster recovery
ICPA (Aust) believes programs and measures should be implemented to assist with the significant barriers to educational access due to where these families live. Ideally this could be realised with the introduction of a Rural Hardship Education Fund (RHEF) to assist with the cost of education during drought, flood, fire or other rural hardship.
2023-24 Pre-Budget Submission
This submission forms part of our work in advocating for allowances to further assist families and students in rural and remote areas of Australia to gain equity in accessing education. Funding these allowances would help alleviate and overcome the challenges families face when educating their children in isolated regions of Australia.
