Parents living in the most remote parts of the NT will be heading to Alice Springs this week to address education inequalities.
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Members and guests of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association are travelling to the centre of Australia for the 46th annual Federal Conference.
More than 150 delegates and guests from across Australia will gather on Wednesday and Thursday to debate 97 motions to ensure equitable access to education for children living in our rural and remote areas is received.
Patron of the Northern Territory ICPA Jan Heaslip will open the event on Wednesday.
In 1993 Mrs Heaslip received an OAM for services to education for children in the outback.
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“With communications such a topical subject for rural and remote Australia, we are fortunate to have representatives from Telstra and nbn attend and address conference,” an ICPA spokeswoman said.
“Interacting with delegates and guests will give both organisations a firsthand look at how our members are coping with expensive internet plans and poor mobile reception.”
ICPA federal president Wendy Hick said the achievements of the last twelve months have been extremely welcome, however there is still much work to be done to ensure that rural families are able to access appropriate and affordable education for their children.
The spokeswoman said the motions being presented by branches this year focuses on five main issues.
- “The failure of the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) allowance to keep pace with the cost of boarding
- The immense impact internet access has on families and distance education
- The guarantee of a suitable telephone service for those living outside the cities and maintenance of this service
- Ensuring that all young Australians can participate in early childhood learning no matter where they live including the call for extension of the AIC to include four-year-olds beginning their formal education;
- The pursuit of the Distance Education Teaching Allowance (DETA), to recognise distance education tutors for providing what the government cannot.”
