When the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) delivered its Educate & Embrace seminar as park of the speaking program at Beef2024 in Rockhampton in early May, it was a chance to talk to producers, scientists, chefs, students, and exhibitors connected to the Australian beef industry about the sustainability and vibrancy of rural and regional communities.
That vibrancy, says ICPA Federal President Louise Martin, is made possible through access to quality education – and by inviting the event’s attendees to explore the role education has in shaping the future of the agricultural industry, she hoped to stir some action to drive meaningful change.
As the leading remote and isolated education advocacy group, ICPA is passionate about the pivotal part education has in supporting these communities, To make a genuine difference, Ms Martin told EducationDaily, education access needs to be a priority – at whatever age or stage from pre-kindy, through to the workforce.
“Being raised in a rural or remote location is not a limiting factor to future success, nor should it limit options and opportunities when education is accessible”, Ms Martin says.
“By ensuring accessibility, individuals can achieve educational excellence and rise to any level of their choosing and path.”
To maintain a diverse industry, Ms Martin believes agriculture also needs to feature in education, to show our upcoming generations, regardless of where they receive their education, that farming is a viable industry and is here to stay.
Investment in education access is fundamental to the prosperity of rural communities, she says.
“By ensuring equitable access to education, we’ll keep our talent right here, driving opportunity in their chosen paths, and keeping those interested in essential regional industries like agriculture, here.”
But the challenges rural and remote families are immense, says Ms Martin – “from the rising cost of living to the turbulent markets”. And the ICPA wants politicians and policy makers to listen to their voices.
“Within these communities lies incredible talent and potential. Ignoring their needs not only undermines the future of rural education but also hampers the growth of vital sectors like agriculture,” she says.
“Our seminar aimed to address these issues head-on – seeking solutions that will not only alleviate the burdens faced by families but also unlock the full potential of rural Australia. It’s a conversation that exceeds geography and politics, focusing squarely on how we can adequately provide for our youth and the opportunities they deserve.”
A lifelong passion for the value of learning
Ms Martin’s commitment to advocacy for isolated Australian families in RRR areas stretches back 50 years when her own mother was involved in the inception of the organisation and went on to be Federal President.
What drives her, she says, is the urgent need to look at the “big picture” by “keeping our communities thriving, surviving and educated”.
“Our children deserve access to the best and most equitable education,” she told EducationDaily.
She says there have been improvements – but adds that more change is still needed and says that, “if ICPA is not knocking on the door” of the change-makers, “we’re at a great disadvantage”.
Without high schools, RRR communities will suffer
For Queensland families working the land in remote and rural locations, Ms Martin says 12 regional shires across the state currently don’t have a high school.
“People are leaving their communities to educate their children,” she told EducationDaily.
For those committed to staying, Ms Martin says the cost of sending teenage children away to boarding schools to complete their secondary education is the only option for face-to-face schooling. But with annual expenses totalling around $20,000-$30,000 per child, she says it’s an expense that many struggle to afford.
She was disappointed that the recent Federal Budget had “really nothing in it for our RRR families”, adding that the strength and resilience of rural and remote communities will suffer as a result.
“When you take children out of RRR communities, you take with them their parents – the police officers, the teachers, the nurses,” Ms Martin says.
“Providing access to secondary education is the way to keep RRR communities alive – and more must be done to help.”
