Parents ‘lobby’ for better rural education

The state council was pleased to have Education Minister Susan Close attend to "open the channel of communication" between the organisation and the government.

"I thought it was great that we had the Education Minister there and got to introduce ourselves and our organisation to her," association president Lisa Hunt said.

"I thought her speech to us was very encouraging, that she was willing to work with us and listen to us in the future.

"She seemed very open to learning more about our needs and organisation.

"The other great outcome was representatives from the Department of Education stayed pretty much all day, which we've never had before, and they also chatted with us and seemed very encouraging for us to follow up on our motions."

Mrs Hunt said key motions included access to educational materials in school rooms to reduce reliance on internet connections.

"Although broadband is probably a federal (ICPA) motion, I think the key ones for the state are to keep pushing for remote and isolated distance education students to actually get physical materials in their school rooms so they're not 100 per cent reliant on the internet for their work, which is not very reliable for them," she said.

A presentation from National Broadband Network Co's Chris Gregory was received well by participants, and Mrs Hunt said she felt he fielded the questions thrown at him well.

"People felt that although change is not going to happen straight away, that it will possibly happen," she said.

"I think a key thing for us to do now, and we've been encouraged to do that by our local politicians, is to go to the NBN and say 'can you please prioritise education and in particular, distance education families, in your roll out'."

Further motions focused on some of the allowances which remote and isolated families were entitled to, including delays in payments.

"I think particularly the Remote Travel Allowance and the State Education Allowance which were not being paid on time, Ms Close took that on and said she would look into that," Mrs Hunt said.

"That looks like it will change in the future which will be handy because families need that each term to keep those ongoing costs down.

"The other allowances, we'll always bring them up; whether we get any increase or not, but we'll always be hopeful."

A highlight of the day was the presentation of SA ICPA life membership to Sharon Nutt, Edeowie Station, via Port Augusta.

Immediate past president Anneleise Dolphin presented the award, commending Mrs Nutt for her years of service to the state council including as state secretary from 2003-07 and as president from 2007-11.

"Sharon has led and motivated ICPA for a good 10 years," Mrs Dolphin said.

"I think we need to highlight that many people don't hear of the terrific difference outstanding people like Sharon make when 'networking' with families who don't understand opportunities or barriers that are put in place by the Education Department for our children (rural and remote) needing educational equity.

"I have witnessed Sharon's ability to talk with, and advocate for, parents to get students into places that were impossible or not even known of.

"Sharon would have lost count of how many students and parents she has helped, whether small or enormously; this has saved so much despair."