MEDIA RELEASE

Isolated Children's Parents' Association

15th August 2011

 40 Years On In Isolation

A message received from Prime Minister Gillard acknowledged the anniversary of the 40^th year of ICPA congratulating the association on this important milestone.

 ICPA is the voice of education in isolation with 40 years of policy making behind us.

 Numerous motions from ICPA branches across Australia imploring the government to immediately address serious issues surrounding changes to the Independent Youth Allowance were received.

 We have a Federal Government that has policies which do not address the inequities in education of rural Australia, and that does not appear to understand the needs of the regional people of our great country.

 Approximately 200 rural and remote families will have to personally fund their pre-school aged children if they wish to access the Universal Access to Early Childhood Education through Distance Education.  An extension to the Assistance for Isolated Children Distance Education Allowance Access is called for to achieve equality for these families with their metro and city families.

 “Achieving equity of access to educational opportunities for our rural and remote students is paramount to ensuring these students achieve their educational aspirations and 40 years on these issues are as relevant today as they were in 1971”, stated Mrs Judy Newton, the new Federal ICPA President of Australia.

“For further comments and information please contact:

• Federal
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Western Australia