That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate for the extension of the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Distance Education Allowance to include geographically isolated children enrolled in eligible pre-compulsory early childhood programs.
Extending the AIC to cover pre-compulsory early childhood education would assist families in geographically isolated areas to create rich, engaging, and well-resourced home learning environments for their young children, helping reduce the early learning gap between remote and urban peers.
This support is especially critical with the introduction of three-year-old kindergarten in South Australia. Without adequate financial backing, this initiative risks unintentionally widening the educational divide for the most remote children.
ICPA (Aust)’s ongoing advocacy in this space has gained traction, with interest shown by federal election candidates in the seat of Grey. Our branch fully endorses Federal Council’s continued lobbying for this much-needed and equitable reform.
