“That ICPA (WA) requests the Minister for Education work collaboratively with the Department of Education, the Catholic Education WA (CEWA), the Association of Independent Schools WA (AISWA), the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) and the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) to ensure that a balanced approach to risk management within Boarding Schools is undertaken so that disproportionate restrictions aren’t placed on our vulnerable young children. “
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve in Western Australia and we learn to live with COVID in our community, parents have real concerns for the wellbeing of their children in boarding schools and the disadvantage compared to their day student peers. Geographically isolated students are a vulnerable cohort who, in many instances have no choice but to attend a boarding school in order to receive an equitable educational opportunity. Their families continue to be exasperated by the conditions imposed and measures implemented to limit the spread of the virus in boarding schools.
Across our vast State in all the varying boarding environments, inconsistent, unjustifiable, and stifling guidelines, processes and rules have proven to extenuate these vulnerabilities, proving unbearable for the children and indeed heartbreaking for their families. We believe more needs to be done to ensure pragmatic solutions are implemented in boarding facilities which do not further disadvantage our children.
Please consider our vulnerable young children before disproportionate restrictions compared to their day student peers are placed upon them.
