That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Australian Government to review the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme and introduce a tiered payment structure or additional GI loading based on geographic isolation and distance from educational services, recognising the significantly higher costs incurred by families in remote and very remote Australia.
ICPA NT acknowledges and thanks the Federal Council for its extensive advocacy regarding the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme. However, the current AIC payment does not adequately recognise the substantially higher costs incurred by families living in remote and very remote Australia.
The current fuel crisis has exacerbated this situation and now more than ever, each additional km travelled makes such a costly difference.
While all geographically isolated families face additional costs in accessing education compared to their urban counterparts, the level of financial burden varies significantly depending on a family's location. Families living hundreds of kilometres from schools, airports and essential services incur considerably greater expenses than those living closer to educational centres.
These additional costs include, but are not limited to:
● Travel to and from boarding schools, airports and distance education events;
● Accommodation during educational visits, school events and travel periods;
● Increased fuel costs;
● Vehicle maintenance and wear and tear;
● Lost income associated with extended travel times;
● Access to educational resources and services.
A tiered payment structure (or GI loading) based on geographic isolation or distance from educational services would provide a fairer and more equitable distribution of support, ensuring assistance better reflects the actual costs faced by families.
ICPA NT notes that the Northern Territory's Student Assistance Scheme (NT SAS) already incorporates distance-based assistance (grouped into multiple zones), recognising that the costs associated with education increase with geographical isolation. A similar approach within the AIC Scheme would ensure support is better aligned with the realities faced by remote and very remote families across Australia.
CASE STUDY 1: A family property on the Barkly Tablelands in the NT travels 740km (one way) to attend contact events at Katherine School of the Air. A whole day's drive, a whole day's pay for a home tutor, a whole day of lost work for the parent, an extra night’s accommodation on Friday night as it's too far to head home after In-school has finished. Extra fuel costs, wear and tear on vehicles. 4 x In schools per year, plus school camps, sports camps and more.
CASE STUDY 2: A family living north of Mataranka on the main Stuart Highway travels 64km to Katherine School of the Air (one way). They receive the same AIC as Case Study 1, but incur a far less cost and time burden to attend in-school events etc.
CASE STUDY 3: A family on the NT/WA border travels 926km to Darwin to get kids on a plane to go back to boarding school. At least one night's accommodation, usually two as you need a day to get supplies for school, haircuts and medical appointments.
