ICPA (Aust) Federal Councillors from all corners of Australia will be leaving their rural and remote homes and families to meet with 30 Federal Ministers, Members of Parliament and Senators in Canberra along with relevant stakeholders to advocate for equitable educational opportunities and outcomes for geographically isolated children, reaffirming that education attainment should not be impacted by where you reside.
Issues on the agenda include those carried at the Federal Conference in August 2022, along with some key topics for discussion representing the long-term needs of geographically isolated families when educating their children. Advocacy areas include:
- Early childhood programs and child care for all rural and remote families, including an extension of the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Distance Education allowance to three to four-year-old students, ensuring that early years’ mobile services continue to be supported, In Home Care (IHC) and the necessity for child care programs that meet the needs of families living in rural and remote areas.
- Financial support for distance education tutors who are working with students in geographically isolated distance education classrooms.
- Adequate and affordable communications in rural and remote areas to ensure geographically isolated students have the resources they require for their educational needs.
- A review of and increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme payments to enable affordable access to education for rural and remote students.
- A Rural Hardship Education Fund (RHEF) to assist rural and remote families with the cost of education of their children in times of rural hardship, including long-term drought, drought recovery, floods and instances of personal hardship.
- Financial assistance and adequate support for geographically isolated students with specific learning needs.
- Financial assistance for rural and remote tertiary and training students who aspire to pursue a tertiary education or Vocational Education and Training pathway and must relocate from home to do so.
On this first delegation since the Federal election in May, ICPA (Aust) is hopeful that some of these needs will be addressed and can be resolved in the coming months.
Further information and comments please contact:
Alana Moller, Federal President
Suzanne Wilson, Federal Publicity Officer
