Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week, Danny Crump and I had the pleasure of visiting families in Longreach and Blackall. While in Blackall, we attended the ICPA ( Isolated Children’s Parent Association) 2022 state conference. We felt privileged to attend and as always, came away with an increased understanding of the issues facing our remote and rural communities, in the education sector. It allowed us to get a first-hand glimpse into successes, challenges, and issues facing many of our beautiful boarders, many of whom live great distances from Stuartholme School, such as Tambo, Blackall, Longreach, Emerald, Goondiwindi, Moree, Dalby, Quilpie and Theodore.

Some background on the ICPA: it is a voluntary and apolitical not-for-profit organization with 45 branches in Queensland and over 1200 member families. It remains the only parent group with interests in all sections and levels of education, state schools, independent or boarding schools, kindergarten to tertiary education, and all methods used to facilitate access to that education. ICPA Qld’s policies are formed through motions brought to the State Conference each year by branches across the state. It provides a forum whereby members convene to share their frustrations and celebrations, the experience of educating their children, and requests to improve equity to access to education for rural and remote families.

It provides an opportunity for many Departmental representatives, Members of Parliament, Senators, Boarding Schools, and other key organizations to hear issues from those that are on the ground experiencing them.

Education Minister, Grace Grace, presented at the conference this week and announced an increase in distance education IT subsidy. Listening in closely, our very own Louise Martin, president of QLD ICPA.

With our wonderful regional tour behind us, we now look forward to the week ahead: assessments, sports, and other extra-curricular events.

As the term draws to a close, our boarding community wishes you all a very happy holidays!

Jane Morris
Dean of Boarding