That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Government to significantly increase the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance so that it more accurately reflects the real and rising cost of boarding school education for geographically isolated students.
The AIC Basic Boarding Allowance is a vital support for families who, due to geographic isolation, must send their children away from home to access secondary schooling. However, the current rate of the allowance has not kept pace with the actual cost of boarding, which has consistently increased at a rate far exceeding the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Boarding school fees continue to rise due to increasing operational costs, including staffing, accommodation, transport, and pastoral care. Meanwhile, the AIC Basic Boarding Allowance has seen only minimal adjustments over the years, resulting in a growing gap between the financial support provided and the actual expenses families face. This widening gap places an unsustainable burden on isolated families and erodes their educational choices.
As an equity measure, the AIC must be sufficient to ensure that students living in remote and rural areas can access quality education on a level playing field with their urban peers. Without adequate support, families are forced to make difficult decisions that may compromise their children's educational opportunities, well-being, and stability.
If the Federal Government is serious about delivering equitable access to education for all Australian children, regardless of postcode, it must commit to a meaningful increase in the AIC Basic Boarding Allowance and index it appropriately to reflect ongoing cost increases.
