Student Accommodation

For many families throughout rural and remote Australia, the education of their children at a local school is not an option, with many shires without a district high school or schools that educate students in years 11 and 12.  

The decision to send their child to boarding school is a difficult one and not an easy decision for parents to make.  ICPA has long campaigned for affordable access to an equitable education and the Student Accommodation portfolio encompasses that.

In 2026 the Student Accommodation Portfolio will focus on issues including: 

• Advocate for the provision of funding for students with disabilities and medical diagnoses in boarding facilities.
• Advocate for an annual review process for all State-run residential and agricultural colleges.
• Advocate for a code of conduct for Local Input Networking and Communication (LINC) committees currently serving State-run residential colleges.
• ICPA (WA) will advocate to ensure that all relevant education stakeholders across WA are meaningfully consulted and actively involved in any review, amendment, or implementation process relating to AS 5725:2025 (Boarding Standard for Australian Schools and Residences).
• Advocate for additional funding to be made available for the purpose of upgrades to WA State-run residential colleges.
• Advocate for an investigation into the feasibility of establishing a purpose-built Government residential college located on the site of a metropolitan public secondary school for students from regional, rural and remote WA for Years 7–12.

ICPA (WA) is grateful for the generous support provided by the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA).

This portfolio is led by Jasmyn Allen and supported by Ruth Rowe.