That ICPA (Aust) advocates to Standards Australia and relevant education authorities to ensure rural, regional and remote stakeholders are meaningfully consulted during any review, amendment or implementation process relating to Australian boarding standards.
For many geographically isolated families, boarding is not a choice but a necessity to access secondary education.
National boarding standards directly impact:
• student wellbeing and safety,
• operational requirements,
• accessibility and affordability of boarding,
• and the sustainability of boarding providers servicing regional Australia.
ICPA (Aust) believes rural and remote families, boarding students, boarding providers and regional communities must have meaningful input into the development and implementation of boarding standards to ensure they remain practical, equitable and workable across diverse regional settings.
Meaningful consultation should include:
• rural and remote families,
• boarding students and parents,
• government and non-government boarding providers,
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,
• disability stakeholders,
• agricultural and pastoral communities,
• and relevant education and wellbeing professionals.
