Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Imagine being a young parent living on a remote outback station and thinking about what to do for your children's education. It can feel very isolating, but it need not be. I recently had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the Isolated Children's Parents Association, which was held in Darwin. I attended along with my colleagues Senator McDonald and Senator Nampijinpa Price. The ICPA have been working tirelessly for over five decades, and this was their 52nd conference since the ICPA's foundation in 1971. The ICPA have provided a voice for over 2,500 members and are a pivotal force in ensuring the education of our remote and regional students, ensuring equity of access and ensuring that those students aren't forgotten, right from early childhood needs to preschool, primary school, high school and tertiary education.

Their membership covers a very broad spectrum of rural, regional and remote families and communities and includes primary producers, small-business owners and educational institutions that cater to the geographically isolated communities. Their lobbying over the years has included support for transport for students to get to school, support for regional university centres and support for families and their support networks. The association's enduring commitment has made it a powerful advocate for rural and remote education. I thank the ICPA for having me and I thank them for the work they do and the support they give to those families so they're not isolated.