"That ICPA Qld continues to lobby the QLD Government for a Distance Education Supervisor Subsidy (DESS) to assist Geographically Isolated (GI) families with the cost of supplying a supervisor to GI Distance Education students."
Deemed Covered by A24
The cost of providing a supervisor to GI students has been a long-standing issue at both State and Federal levels. While we appreciate the work already undertaken, we must keep pushing for recognition of the financial burden of student supervision placed on GI families.
The Queensland Department of Education Distance Education Enrolment and Fees Procedure (v7.3 effective 02/12/2024) states that upon enrolment, the applicant is responsible to “ensure there is active onsite support and supervision, including monitoring regular return of work, exam supervision (where relevant) and appropriate contact with SDE teachers”. The supervisor needs to commit 6-8 hours per day to the role which requires dedication and commitment and can last many years.
This supervisor role is equivalent to a Teacher Aide in a mainstream class and if a supervisor is employed by the family, renumeration costs an average of $70,000 per year. In 80% of circumstances, the mother becomes the supervisor and therefore is taken out of the workforce. In this case, the mother will not receive any remuneration, superannuation, or professional recognition for the vital role she has played in the education of her children.
When children in urban areas start school, it is an opportunity for parents to return to work and increase their income capacity. For GI families, it is the start of ongoing additional expense for the compulsory education of their children. For equity in education for all Queensland students, GI families are entitled to assistance with the cost of educating their children as the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 – Queensland Legislation Chapter 3 outlines that State education is to be free to an Australian citizen or permanent resident or child thereof, and a fee for distance education is not payable if the person lives in a remote area.
