AT THE recent Isolated Children's Parents' Association federal conference in Adelaide, delegates discussed the creation of a hardship fund to help cover education costs following natural disasters or challenging seasons.
ICPA immediate past president Wendy Hicks said some families were well into their eighth year of drought and there were very real concerns about how families were going to be able to keep their kids in school.
But she said this fund should not just be available during drought times.
She said the monsoonal flooding in North West Qld earlier this year was another example of its need, as was the live-export ban or dairy crisis, or even major bushfire events.
"These can all lead to almost no income for a family through no fault of their own," she said.
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