The ICPA WA Policy Priorities 2025 outline key actions to improve educational access and equity for rural and remote families in Western Australia. The document highlights urgent needs in five focus areas:
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Allowances – Increase the Boarding Away from Home Allowance (BAHA) and address the funding gap left by existing subsidies to reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
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Distance Education / SOTA – Introduce a Distance Education Teaching Allowance (DETA) to support unpaid home supervisors, and elevate this issue to national policy discussions.
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Rural & Remote Schools – Improve teacher housing, expand curriculum support through SIDE trials, and promote agricultural pathways and early childhood access.
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Inclusion & Accommodation – Fund residential college upgrades, support for students with disability and neurodiversity, and ensure inclusive boarding opportunities.
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Travel & Transport – Implement Bus Fair Report recommendations, protect local school bus services, and provide conveyance support for School of the Air families.
