Happy ‘slide-into-winter’ time for our southern states, while our Queenslanders up north watch on in awe (or bewilderment). Toe socks, woollen gloves, gentle washing of the ice off the windscreen, industrial strength felt lined rubber gloves to clean the troughs…. I’m getting colder just writing the list.
Well I’m off to sunny Townsville for the Queensland Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) State Conference and watching the weather on the nightly news has me pulling out the summer frocks from their recent relegation to the back of the wardrobe. (insert small happy dance).
Queensland must be exhausted from its hosting duties. Unless you’ve been living under a winter weighted feather doona you may have noticed Beef Week just wrapped up and honestly this celebration of beef gets better and better every time Rockhampton opens its gates! I loved watching along at home via the socials. A bit further up the coast, Townsville is bracing itself for the arrival of hundreds of delegates – members, schools, stakeholders and sponsors – for the annual State Conference of ICPA.
I’ve written an article this month about the vital role the ICPA plays in ensuring equity of access to education for rural, regional and remote children all over Australia. From early childhood to tertiary. It simply cannot be understated that without this organisation our hopes for equity would remain just that….hopes. In my tribute to this volunteer organisation I aim to share their story and if you read nothing else of my newsletter this month, try and take a few moments to read this.
We kicked off live Expo season in Dubbo with the fervour of a Taylor Swift concert. Biggest Expo ever and thank you to everyone that visited. The auditorium was filled with the joyous sounds of schools talking to families, with some travelling well over 800 km to visit. Wagga is next, on the 21st and 22nd June and our Queenslanders will definitely be sweating with envy as they watch us freeze our socks off
Thank you to Ravenswood School (Sydney, NSW) for sponsoring this newsletter – you can read about them below.
I’ve included a couple of my favourite recommendations for the month with a big shout out to Townsville. And remember, if you’ve got any suggestions for topics or questions you’d like to ask, please get in touch. All of our contact details are on our website. I look foward to meeting you at one of our Expo events.
Have a great month,
A TRIBUTE TO OUR ICPA VOLUNTEERS
Who better to celebrate this National Volunteers Week than our peak education body..
Please join me as I stand up and applaud the dedication of our ICPA who have, for 53 years, advocated and lobbied for equity of access to education for all of our rural, remote and regional kids. It all started in 1971 at Bourke, NSW.
WITH ICPA’S MOUNT ISA BRANCH OF THE AIR
Mount Isa Popup Expo 2024
Alongside some of our most remote families, we’ll be back for our Mount Isa Popup event – it’s our second trip to Mount Isa (2022 was our first) and this December we’re supporting Mount Isa Branch of the Air ICPA and their 25th Anniversary of Sports for Bush Kids Week. Applaud these schools who’ve registered, and encourage your school to get on board if they haven’t!
ICPA’S GUIDE TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
So what are the Federal Allowances for rural and remote students?
Here’s a link to the current assistance available via the Federal Government for rural and remote students – from early childhood to tertiary and further education. It’s comprehensive and current to December 2023.
Here are the things we’re loving right now…
Townsville feature for our trip to the ICPA QLD Conference
THE CATHEDRAL SCHOOL TOWNSVILLE
Diamond Sponsors of ICPA’S QLD State Conference… and one of our Expo Schools!
We’re looking forward to catching up with the team from TCS at Townsville. Their massive support of ICPA Qld in hosting the Conference is almost as fantastic as them joining our Mount Isa Popup event in December! Shout out to our TCS families.
SERIOUS SURF SHACK VIBES
Heading to Longboard for sip & chill
When in Townsville… I’ll be up for fish tacos, finished with a spiked sorbet and better wash it down with a frosty coconut. If you know, you know…. we’ll definitely be chilling out here post conference.
A TODDLE UP A HILL FOR THE BEST VIEW IN TOWN
I’ll be the Queen of the Castle…
Hill in Townsville
Let’s do this short albeit steep walk from downtown Townsville up Castle Hill via the well worn Cudtheringa Track. We’ll send you a pic. Well maybe I’ll post it on Instagram – guaranteed the best view in a town where the mountains meet the reef.
Thank you to this month’s sponsor.
Nestled within a safe and caring boutique environment, Ravenswood Residential College in Gordon, Sydney, supports up to 50 Boarders from Years 7-12 to ignite their potential and flourish.
A home away from home, the girls live and learn together, developing strong and meaningful relationships in a family-like atmosphere with the support of Positive Education and Wellbeing trained boarding, teaching and wellbeing staff.
Receiving an Excellence Award by The Educator as Boarding School of the Year in 2022, Ravenswood offers a unique blend of academic rigor and holistic well-being in state-of-the-art facilities.
The Ravenswood Boarding experience is designed to provide a sense of belonging and individualised attention, ensuring each student’s individual growth.
From tailored study sessions to over 100 enriching Co-curricular activities, Ravenswood offers Boarders a first-class learning and living experience. Ravenswood is the only school on the Upper North Shore to offer Senior students the flexible choice of the HSC or International Baccalaureate Diploma.
In 2023, all Year 12 Boarders achieved their first University preference and one Boarder achieved an ATAR of 99.70, a testament to the Positive Education and teaching, learning and wellbeing approach in the Residential College.