That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the relevant federal ministers to include criteria that would ensure the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding and Additional Boarding Allowances are available to students living in or near remote communities such as Walgett, NSW that are identified as severely educationally disadvantaged, in the “Educate Australia Fair”, Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre Study.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of many over the past few decades, there are locations in remote areas of Australia where due to extenuating circumstances, lone High Schools are not able to provide adequate educational opportunities for all students.
While most States recognise the need to offer bypassing of local schools that offer limited programs, others do not. Support for families continues to be ignored, and they continue to leave once their children reach secondary education. Locations that have been identified as severely educationally disadvantaged in the “Educate Australia Fair” Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre Study must have the option of accessing the AIC Boarding Allowance, which will assist families to remain in remote communities.
