That ICPA (Aust) advocate for QANTAS, REX and other regional airlines to offer reduced, capped priced fares on available seats to rural and remote secondary, tertiary and TAFE students travelling between their place of education or training and their home at any time on any flight.
In NSW there are currently no fare discounts available to anyone, and the cost of air fares are extremely prohibitive for students.
For many secondary, tertiary and TAFE students living in rural and remote communities, air travel is often the most time efficient and safest form of travel. Our branch members have students travelling vast distances to attend their educational and training facilities. This can result in a whole day or two days’ travel by rail or road, when there are time constraints this is not possible, especially if students are driving with a restricted provisional license. Having reduced, capped prices would enable students to travel between home and the location of their education with greater ease and safety. This would encompass students travelling for leave, practical and theory components of their course requirements and also allow the security of travel to and from their educational institution and their home via the moist direct route available when unplanned situations arise.
For this reason, a use of a discount code as put forward by Julia Creek Branch, Motions S9, S10 at the 2024 Federal Conference would be enable students to use air travel to complete their education and training needs to and from their home in a safe and time affective way. Air travel from rural and remote communities for students allows flexibility and greater options when completing their studies which will in turn ensure that students have a greater chance of completing their secondary and further education without having the burden of traveling vast distances with exorbitant costs.
These student capped fares would also encourage city students to consider taking on a rural and remote placement through their training as travel and distance would not be a barrier. This incentive will help promote and rural and remote locations as an accessible option for various compulsory practical course requirements which in turn may lead to graduates choosing rural and remote locations being where they start their career.
