That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Federal Government to work with regional airlines, including Regional Express (REX), to establish a national fixed-fare scheme for students required to travel to and from rural and remote areas for education purposes, similar to Queensland’s 'Bush to Boarding' initiative.
Rural and remote students across Australia, including those in South Australia, deserve equitable access to education, which includes affordable and reliable travel to and from boarding schools. Many families have no option but to send their children away from home for secondary schooling, incurring high and often unpredictable travel costs.
In South Australia, ICPA families rely on Regional Express (REX) flights from towns such as Coober Pedy, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, and Broken Hill to Adelaide. A capped, concessional airfare scheme (similar to Queensland’s 'Bush to Boarding' program), providing flexible, discounted fares for students, would offer significant financial relief and improve access to education for isolated families. While REX is currently in voluntary administration, it is anticipated that the situation may stabilise by June 30, 2025, potentially enabling implementation of such an initiative. Federal leadership and coordination would be key in ensuring a nationally consistent, accessible solution in collaboration with relevant airlines and states.
