That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the relevant ministers for the additional loadings for the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) rates for students traveling to Canberra to be permanently implemented.
The Australian Government should consider making the additional loadings to the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) permanent to address the ongoing financial challenges faced by rural and remote families. While temporary increases have been implemented to alleviate cost-of-living pressures, such as boosting the rebate for students from very remote, disadvantaged schools in the Northern Territory from $510 to $2,040, these measures should be made permanently from their current Pilot Program. Families in remote areas often incur significantly higher travel and accommodation expenses when organizing educational trips to Canberra, and these costs are not fully offset by the standard PACER rebates. By permanently incorporating additional loadings based on remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage, the government would ensure equitable access to vital civics education experiences for all students, regardless of their geographic location. This approach would acknowledge the unique challenges faced by rural and remote communities and support their inclusion in national educational initiatives.
