“That ICPA Qld lobbies the Department of Education (DoE) and Translink to extend the school conveyance allowance to include remote and isolated SDE students.”
Currently, the conveyance allowance is provided to assist with travel costs for students who live a certain distance from their school. However, students enrolled in Distance Education, particularly those in remote and isolated areas, often face significant travel burdens when required to attend in-school curriculum days, which are an essential part of their learning. These students are just as disadvantaged in terms of travel expenses as those attending physical schools, and this gap in support creates an additional financial strain for families.
Distance Education students in remote and isolated areas should have the same access to financial support as other students required to travel to school for in-school curriculum days. Families of Distance Education students often incur high travel costs for in-school curriculum days that are not currently covered under the existing conveyance allowance. Expanding the eligibility criteria to include Distance Education students will help level the playing field for rural and remote families, ensuring our children have access to the full benefits of education, regardless of their geographical location.
Julia Creek branch believes that expanding the conveyance allowance to include remote and isolated Distance Education students will remove an unnecessary financial burden, promote equity in education, and ensure all students have the support they need to access the in-school components of their learning.
