More supported needed to keep families together

For some rural families, limited local education forces parents to either pack up and move, or send their children to boarding school.

Insufficient government support for isolated children across remote and rural Australia could force families to move from their communities in search of accessible education.

That’s according to the Isolated Children’s Parent’s Association, whose calls for an increase in federal government support for boarding school costs were not addressed in the 2024-25 budget.

The ICPA made a request to the federal government earlier this year to increase the Assistance for Isolated Children boarding allowance.

The AIC boarding allowance is a payment for families and children who are geographically isolated, have a special education need, no reasonable access to a school, or meet a continuity condition.

ICPA president Louise Martin said the allowance provided financial support for families to send children to boarding school “when they’ve got no other daily access to secondary schooling”.

“Slowly over time, it’s eroded away,” Ms Martin said.

Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Queensland President Louise Martin – Photo: Supplied

“The gap continues to widen, what it means now is families who can’t afford to send their kids to boarding school they’re more likely to leave their communities and move closer to a school.”

According to the department of human services, the amount of assistance available for families is dependent on a number of factors, with payment rates adjusted in January each year.

The maximum boarding allowance for 2024 is $12,816 per annum.

Ms Martin said out of pocket expenses for boarding schools often cost parents upwards of $30,000 a year.

“That is not possible if you’re on a wage or salary,” Ms Martin said.

“The extra money would give people opportunities and options to stay in their community … good, loyal families in the community will have to just pack up and leave.

“There is no choice. You can do distance education, and some cater up to Year 12, but doing distance education is fine in primary school and the schools do a great job. But when you’re in high school you need your peers, you need people.”

The NT Isolated Children's Parents Association has called for a boost in the boarding allowance for remote and rural families. Picture: Supplied.

A federal government spokesperson said a number of initiatives are in place to support regional and remote students, including a $10.9 million government scholarship program pilot.

Three third party providers deploy the scholarship, including 70 scholarships through The BUSY Group, 20 scholarships through MADALAH Limited for First Nations students in Western Australia, and 10 scholarships for First Nations students from Cape York through The Cape York Institute.

All 100 positions for this year have been allocated.

Despite the many benefits of regional and remote living, Ms Martin said with rising financial pressures for farmers across the country, every dollar counts.

“If you’re a primary producer, there are high expectations to produce a cleaner, greener product. Our input costs are higher and higher, and we’re getting mashed from every angle.”