Motions for the Conference
A 001ICPA Federal Council
That the 2022 Federal Conference Minutes as circulated on 6 May 2023 be accepted.
A 01Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Minister for Social Services and other relevant government departments for an increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance for geographically isolated students, to help alleviate financial pressures incurred as a result of increased fees by boarding facilities.
A 02Broken Hill Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to lobby the Minister for Education and the Minister for Social Services for an increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance, to help reduce the gap between costs incurred by geographically isolated families and the Basic Boarding Allowance.
A 03Midwest Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Education and Minister for Social Services for an increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance to more closely reflect the real cost of educating geographically isolated students where the only option is to attend a boarding facility.
A 04Richmond Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Minister for Social Services for an increase to the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance of at least $4000 and the alignment of the Allowance to the Consumer Price Index: Education sub index to assist geographically isolated students’ access to boarding school.
A 05Collarenebri-Mungindi Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) asks the Minister for Social Services to review the guidelines for approving ‘Limited Program Schools’ to make the program more effective for rural and remote students.
A 06Walgett Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the relevant federal ministers to include criteria that would ensure the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding and Additional Boarding Allowances are available to students living in or near remote communities such as Walgett, NSW that are identified as severely educationally disadvantaged, in the “Educate Australia Fair”, Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre Study.
A 07Walgett Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the relevant ministers and departments, requesting the new Commonwealth Regional Scholarship Program include the following criteria:
1. income limits are substantially higher for the families who reside in remote communities such as Walgett, NSW, who are identified as severely educationally disadvantaged by the “Educate Australia Fair”, Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre Study,
2. the income limits are tapered to recognise the number of children in a family, and
3. not reliant on students receiving any other Commonwealth funding.
A 08Westmar-Inglestone Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Federal Education Minister, Social Services Minister and other relevant ministers and departments to recognise rural and remote students as being ‘Vulnerable Persons’ to ensure adequate funding is available to meet the needs of these students and their families.
A 09Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies relevant ministers to support the removal of the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for businesses who assist their employees residing in geographically isolated areas, by providing financial assistance to enable their children to attend boarding school.
A 10Capricornia Branch of the Air (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Government to urgently address the negative impacts that the Direct Measure of Income (DMI) Funding model is having on geographically isolated children who are enrolled at non-government schools and reside within boarding school facilities.
A 11Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues to bring to the attention of the Federal Government the impacts the new ‘Direct Measure of Income’ funding model is having on geographically isolated students who attend boarding schools, when advocating for increases to the Assistance for Isolated Children Allowance (AIC).
A 12Capricornia Branch of the Air (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Government to increase the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Basic Boarding Allowance to counteract the increase in costs of educating geographically isolated children at non-government boarding schools due to costs incurred by the Direct Measure of Income (DMI) funding model.
A 13Midwest Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Federal Government, the Minister for Education and other relevant ministers and government departments to provide funding for students with a disability in residential boarding facilities, so that their needs can be met, and reasonable adjustments and ccommodations can be implemented in accordance with The Disability Standards for Education 2005.
A 14Katherine Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to request the Minister for Communications ensure all rural and remote students have adequate internet access with regard to speed, quality, capabilities and cost of the service.
A 15Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the Minister for Communications and the Minister for Education, investigate if all state and territory governments are offering the deliverance and maintenance of a high speed internet connection to geographically isolated families with children enrolled in chools of Distance Education and Schools of the Air at no cost to the families.
A 16Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the Minister for Communications and the Minister for Education encourage state and territory governments to deliver and maintain a high-speed internet connection to geographically isolated families with children enrolled in Schools of Distance Education and Schools of the Air at no cost to the families.
A 17Queensland State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues to lobby the Minister for Communications to ensure all communication providers fulfil their Universal Service Guarantee (USG) obligations in the provision and functionality of essential communication services that are reliable, fit for purpose and are maintained at a fully functioning standard to enable the delivery of rural and remote education.
A 18Katherine Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Communications to insist Telstra meets their Universal Service Guarantee of providing quality, efficient, and reliable voice services to rural and remote premises including fixed address pastoral leases, remote communities, and remote roadhouses by ensuring new USO voice service exceeds the reliability and quality of exisiting voice services.
A 19CONJOINED MOTION presented by: Western Australia State Council, Alice Springs Branch (NT), Far North Queensland Branch (QLD), Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA), Katherine Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Minister for Social Services, the Minister for Education and all other relevant government departments to establish a Distance Education Teaching Allowance (DETA) in recognition of the role Home Tutors play in educating geographically isolated students via distance education.
A 20Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) investigate the existing precedence of Centrelink Jobseeker payment being available to single principal carer with exemption from mutual obligation requirements because they are a home or distance educator of child/ren in their care, and its possible application, adaption and or leverage for the creation of an applicable Distance Education Tutor Allowance for geographically isolated families.
A 21CONJOINED MOTION presented by: Western Australia State Council, Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA), Katherine Branch (NT), Wentworth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate to the Federal Government for geographically isolated pre-compulsory school students enrolled in a registered distance education program to receive the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Distance Education Allowance where they meet other eligibility criteria.
A 22Katherine Branch (NT)
“That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Education amend the In Home Care rules for families in remote areas to allow:
1. An educator to care for children from more than one family at the same time.
2. An educator to care for their own child whilst caring for children from another family(ies) under In Home Care.
A 23Mitchell-Tomoo/Dunkeld Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Federal Government and the Minister for Education to change the In Home Care (IHC) requirements for educators so that the enrolment in an education degree also makes them eligible for IHC positions in geographically isolated areas.
A 24Wentworth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the relevant departments for geographically isolated families to be able to access the In Home Care program to provide supervision in the home classroom when the student is studying via an approved Distance Education School.
A 25Flinders Ranges Branch (SA)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the Minister for Education and the Minister for Early Childhood Education seek an inclusion to the Education and Care Services National Regulations (2011 SI 653) - Regulation 124 (NSW Legislation) to enable two approved family day care educators to care for children in an approved family day care venue in disadvantaged rural and remote areas of Australia where there is an absence, or limited supply, of Centre Based Day Care or Family Day Care services.
A 26Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for sufficient funding from streams such as the Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) Sustainability stream (or any other funding streams that may be similar), be made available for services in remote and very remote locations to meet their operational costs which are unable to be met through the Childcare Subsidy (CCS)/Parent Fee model.
A 27Louth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant Federal Ministers amend the lack of salary parity between four year trained early childhood teachers and four year trained primary and high school teachers to assist with access to early childhood education in rural and remote communities.
A 28Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant Federal Ministers for funding to be sought to address Early Childhood Teacher pay parity to assist with access to early childhood education in rural and remote communities.
A 29Meekatharra Air Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant minister instigate changes to the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), of the Working Holiday Maker Program (WHM), to include as eligible employment, the positions of governess/nanny/au pair for Working Holiday visa holders intending to complete the required 88 days of work within the specified industry of ‘Plant and Animal Cultivation in Regional Australia’.
A 30Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) continues to advocate that the Federal Government implements a nationally recognised and administered Working with Children Card (WWCC).
A 31Far North Queensland Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to lobby the Federal Government to implement a national Blue Card system, or relevant Working with Children Check in Australia.
A 32Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Federal Government for funding to be sought to further incentivise experienced teachers to take up contracts and long term rural, regional and remote positions.
A 33Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the relevant bodies for a ‘Capped Student Fare’ for geographically isolated students attending educational institutions within Australia who need to travel between their home residence and the educational establishment they attend.
A 34Walgett Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) continues to lobby the relevant federal ministers and the Education Minister to implement a national funding program that would help ensure that no young geographically isolated children are left on childcare, preschool or school buses by installing sensor devices that sense sound and movement, to detect and alert drivers if young children have been left in the vehicle.
A 35Goldfields Eyre Branch (WA)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Federal Government and relevant bodies for increased federal funding to improve rural and remote school’s access to specialists who can diagnose students with learning disabilities and offer ongoing education and support to students and their teachers.
A 36Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that a permanent Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item number for telehealth consultations is assigned to telehealth Allied Health Services, specialists and consultations, including but not limited to Speech Pathology, Paediatricians and Psychologists, where they aren’t already available, to support the specific educational needs and learning difficulties of geographically isolated children.
A 37Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for improved access and utilisation of Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) funding, currently managed through the NDIS scheme for geographically isolated children.
A 38Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) urges the Federal Minister for Health and other relevant ministers and agencies to ensure that federally funded health clinics and health physicians across Australia are easily accessible to all Australians, so all geographically isolated children can receive a diagnosis and ngoing treatment of medical issues that impede their ability to learn and thrive.
A 39Clermont Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to relevant federal ministers and government departments that the first payment of the Tertiary Access Payment for rural and remote students relocating to access tertiary studies be expedited to ensure funds are available when upfront relocation expenses are being endured.
A 40Walgett Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the relevant ministers to change the criteria for the Relocation Scholarship to include all students from remote areas relocating who do not qualify for Youth Allowance.
A 41Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant federal ministers to change the criteria of the Relocation Scholarship so that tertiary students from remote and rural areas, who are not eligible to receive other student allowances, still receive the Relocation Scholarship if they are leaving home to study.
A 42Western Australia State Council
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Federal Government review the criteria for the Relocation Scholarship to ensure all geographically isolated students who must relocate from their usual place of residence for the purpose of undertaking post-compulsory studies are eligible.
A 43Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Federal Government to change the criteria for gaining Independent Youth Allowance so that rural and remote students who have to leave home to study at tertiary level, and are not eligible for Dependent Youth Allowance, are eligible for Independent Youth Allowance as soon as they commence the tertiary course of their choice.
A 44Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Federal Government to change the eligibility criteria for Independent Youth Allowance, so that those rural and remote students who choose to save or invest their earnings during the working period prior to attending university are not disadvantaged by the Liquid Assets criteria.
A 45Katherine Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates for the removal of the parental threshold from the Independent Youth Allowance for students applying under rural and remote work criteria.
A 46Louth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Social Services to increase Centrelink Rent Assistance payments for rural and remote students.
A 47Hay Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the relevant ministers to continue commitment to the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Program or replace with a similar program.
A 48Tasmania Branch (TAS)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the relevant ministers and government departments extend the current scheme to reduce the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt for teachers, to include teachers who commit to teaching in rural and remote Australia not just very remote Australia.
A 49Alpha Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the relevant ministers and government departments extend the current scheme to reduce Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt for rural doctors and nurse practitioners to include all health professionals who work in rural, remote or very remote areas of Australia including those who work with geographically isolated children with specific education needs.
A 50Collarenebri-Mungindi Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Skills and Training to ensure that HECS debt repayments are forwarded by employers and applied each time it is deducted from the employees’ wage to assist rural and remote graduates in the repayment of their HELP debt.
A 51Alice Springs Branch (NT)
That ICPA (Aust) advocates to the Federal Government and relevant ministers to support the inclusion and availability of ‘Certificate IV in School Based Education Support’ in all tertiary institutions across all States and Territories in Australia to assist geographically isolated distance education Home Tutors.
A 52Walgett Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests that the relevant ministers and Universities Australia continue to work with universities and other educational providers to help make Diplomas and Early Childhood Degree’s more accessible and achievable in order to address the severe shortage or Early Childhood Educators in rural and remote areas.
A 53Tasmania Branch (TAS)
That ICPA (Aust) urges the Federal Government to implement the recommendations from the Education in remote and complex environments Report relating to rural and remote tertiary students.
A 54Queensland State Council
That ICPA Qld requests that ICPA (Aust) thanks the Federal Government for its ongoing commitment to the Country Universities Centre (CUC) program for which is making a substantial, proactive contribution to the completion of post compulsory years education in rural and remote areas.
A 55Queensland State Council
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Federal Government to extend the TAP (Tertiary Access Payment) to include rural and remote Australian Apprentices.
A 56Queensland State Council
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Australian Government and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to conduct more comprehensive and timely audits of Australian Apprenticeship Support Networks (AASNs) to ensure that the delivery and support intended by the Australian Government is actually received by rural and remote apprentices/trainees.
A 57Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Skills and Training and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, to mandate specialist support structures for regional and rural apprentices/trainees, from within the federally funded Australia Apprenticeship Support Networks (AASNs).
A 58Queensland State Council
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to add criteria to the Trade Support Loan scheme recognising rural and remote-based apprentices as being eligible to get a 30% discount after completion of the trade.
A 59ICPA Federal Council
That ICPA implements a rolling membership model enabling online recurring membership payments.
A 60Northern Territory State Council
That at future Federal ICPA Conferences that ICPA branch conference delegates’ and observers’ partners be offered conference observer admission at a very low rate to encourage participation and greater gender diversity of our organisation.
A 61Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) accepts our collective gratitude for the work you put into not only advocating for members, but also for the depth and quality of information you develop, make available and share with stakeholders, State Councils and members in the course of your advocacy on a national level. We thank you for representing ICPA nationally in a most professional and esteemed way.
A 62ICPA Federal Council
That the Minutes of the 2022 AGM as circulated on 6 May 2023 be accepted.
A 63ICPA Federal Council
That the 2022 - 2023 Audited Report be received and accepted.
A 64ICPA Federal Council
That the Federal membership fee be set at $25 per member family for the 2024 membership year.
A 65ICPA Federal Council
That Corporate Membership be set at $300 per organisation for the 2024 membership year.
A 66ICPA Federal Council
That School Corporate Membership be set at $300 per school or educational institution for the 2024 membership year.
A 67ICPA Federal Council
That Queensland Audit Services be appointed as auditor for the 2023 – 2024 financial year.
A 68ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendment to Section 6.0 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 69ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendment to Section 11.0 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 70ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendment to Section 19.1 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 71ICPA Federal Council
That the addition of a new Rule 19.10 to Section 19.0 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 72ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendment to Section 32.0 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 73ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendment to Section 7.0 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 74ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendments to Section 18.0 of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Constitution be adopted.
A 75ICPA Federal Council
That the amendments to the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) By-Laws, as circulated, be ratified.
A 76ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendments to the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Distance Education Policy be adopted.
A 77ICPA Federal Council
That the suggested amendments to the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of Australia (Inc) Specific Education Needs Policy be adopted.
A 78New South Wales State Council
That ICPA-NSW hosts the 2024 Federal Conference in Sydney on 24 and 25 July 2024.
A 79South Australia State Council
That ICPA-SA hosts the 2025 Federal Conference in South Australia.
F 01 Northern Territory State Council
That ICPA (Aust) lobbies the relevant ministers to establish funding to deliver mobile remote playgroups to geographically isolated children, aged 0-5 years who are currently without access to any such service because of where they live.
F 02 Bourke Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) request the relevant Federal Ministers expand the criteria of the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) to better suit the needs of rural and remote students.
S 01Wentworth Branch (NSW)
That ICPA (Aust) requests Services Australia to update their AIC Renewal Form to allow ‘Assessment for Additional Boarding Allowance’ to be selected when students transition from Distance Education to Boarding School.
S 02Charters Towers Branch (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) requests the Minister for Education to review NAPLAN reporting timeframes, enabling schools to access students’ results in a timely manner, preferably during Term 2 in the year of examination, to better support the specific learning needs of rural and remote students.
S 03Queensland State Council
That ICPA (Aust) advocates that In Home Care (IHC) Australia and other relevant stakeholders establish a dedicated or stand-alone rural and remote In Home Care branch that works with families who are geographically isolated.
S 04Mt Isa Branch of the Air (QLD)
That ICPA (Aust) introduce a by-law allowing financial ordinary members to be affiliated with other branches from their State.
