Rural schooling hurt by continued cuts
A conference this week saw the unique challenges of remote schooling come together.
Rural educational concerns came from far and wide to the Isolated Children's Parents' Association conference, to give a shared voice to the most isolated students and schools in the country.
A reduction in educational allowances at state and federal levels has hit rural families hard, especially those struggling under drought and agricultural downturn.
It means many are paying a larger share of schooling costs than ever before, but farming worries are not the only ones.
For many families, this means having to pull their kids out of boarding schools, which are one of the only options available to residents of remote areas.
About 120 delegates made almost 100 motions at the ICPA's conference in Tasmania, showing the incredible range of issues impacting isolated educators.
Many attendees said they will have a fight on their hands to save crucial allowances that let them secure a good education for their children.
Federal Liberal MP Eric Hutchinson assured families that there will be an opportunity to reform educational allowances when funds are shifted from the Department of Education to Social Services.
He acknowledged that this would not help in the short-term, but would allow those concerned to engage with their government and look at what can be done.
President of the Isolated Children's Parents' Association Judy Newton told the ABC that rural Australians need to outline the differences in their lifestyles.
“I guess something a lot of rural people don't do well is explain the way they need to educate their children,” Ms Newton said.
“It's certainly not something that a lot of people talk about a lot, it's just a way of life. I think country people need to be a little bit more open and a little bit more proactive in getting that message out.”