The issues affecting rural and remote parents in accessing an appropriate education for their children was debated at the 30th annual Isolated Children's Parents' Association Conference in Armidale earlier this week.
More than 60 motions were on the agenda during the two-day conference calling for things such as recurrent funding to be paid to school term hostels for each resident student, staffing problems in rural school, travel concerns, distance education costs, and the removal of Fringe Benefits Tax on accommodation for essential supervisory staff in boarding schools.
Delegates Amanda Moorhouse and Dianne French from the Lightning Ridge/Goodooga branch attended the conference.
Ms Moorhouse said their motion had gone through on Monday morning calling for a trial in NSW to bypass the local school for secondary students so they can get access to the Assistance for Isolated Children Allowance (AIC).
She said the allowance provided by the Federal Government would help parents to send their children to boarding schools.
Ms Moorhouse said the motion had been supported by Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, and Tottenham and was passed by the State Council.
She said the State Council would take all the motions passed to education minister John Watkins.
"The State Council will be meeting with the minister to discuss the guidelines for a two-year trial of our motion," she said.
Topics discussed on the the first day included travel, communication, distance education, children with disabilities and the CAP program.
She said while all the motions presented were new, they all pertained to already existing issues under the same portfolios.
"It (the conference) has been good so far with all the department heads giving us a reassurance that if they can't give us a yes or no answer on anything, they'd follow it up and seek other referral so we can get a response back," she said.
Ms Moorhouse said on Tuesday boarding and agricultural high schools were discussed as well as reports on hostels and curriculum were presented.
"We also talked about early childhood and tertiary education issues as well as youth allowance and the living away from home allowance," she said.
"The main agenda came up and the annual general meeting for the State Council was held."
Ms Moorhouse said a a range of motions and many reports were presented on Tuesday.
She said a conference dinner was also held on the first night, with presentations awarded to lifetime members, who received a certificate of accreditation.
"I also recited a poem about the outback and this went well with the launch of the 30 years ICPA book from 1972 to 2002, titled Mailbox to Megabytes.
The new State Council saw Barbara Luelf maintain her position as president, and likewise with Susan Gordon remaining as treasurer. The new secretary is Mary Butler from Balranald who took over the position from Pam Waters.
The State Council officially formed yesterday at their first meeting.
Ms Moorhouse said she felt the conference was very good and well attended.
"The idea that the ICPA has kept going and formed many branches throughout the years is good to see for a grass roots association."
"It was definitely a worthwhile experience," she said.
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