“That ICPA Qld continues to lobby the State Government to provide targeted, ongoing financial assistance in the form of a Distance Education Supervisor Subsidy (DESS) for all geographically isolated families accessing Distance Education.”
Families in rural and remote areas face unavoidable barriers to accessing equitable education due to geographic isolation. For students enrolled in Distance Education, the presence of a supervisor is not optional, it is essential to support daily learning, engagement and educational progress.
Currently, families must either privately fund a Distance Education Supervisor or absorb the loss of income when a parent undertakes this role. This creates a clear inequity, placing rural and remote families at a significant disadvantage compared to their urban counterparts, who can access schooling without incurring additional supervision costs.
The absence of a dedicated supervisor subsidy directly undermines and contributes to ongoing educational and financial disadvantage for geographically isolated families.
Provision of a government-funded Distance Education Supervisor Subsidy would:
• Improve equitable access to quality education for rural and remote students
• Reduce the financial burden placed on families
• Enhance student engagement, participation and learning outcomes
• Enable parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce
Targeted and sustainable funding for Distance Education supervision is essential to ensure that students in rural and remote locations are not disadvantaged simply due to where they live.
