The Central Highlands Regional Council has responded to the situation distance education families with the Emerald campus of the Capricornia School of Distance Education have found themselves in, offering them alternative accommodation for their most recent mini-school.
Around 30 families set up camp at the council's McIndoe Park Function Centre for a week after being blocked from using their normal camping facility, the Outstation, by the Department of Education.
Mayor Kerry Hayes said while it was an unconventional use of the facility, council was glad to step up to support the children and their families.
"Council is just so happy that these kids and their parents or carers could enjoy this week of mini-school together," Cr Hayes said. "It's critically important that we value children schooled in remote locations."
The council had previously written a letter of support for the CSDE P&C to highlight the need for an appropriate resolution to the problem.
"Ironically, we keep talking about mental health and then the decision to exclude these families creates the exact situation that makes these people feel like don't have any level of support," Cr Hayes said. "I do hope that the department comes up with a solution that reconsiders the use of the Outstation that recognises its value to the kids and their parents."
Barcaldine Regional Council Mayor Sean Dillon said he had played a quiet advocacy role for families in his shire that had children in both Longreach and Emerald catchments.
In his opinion, there seemed to be a genuine intent by the Education Department to solve the issues shutting families out of onsite accommodation at both campuses.
"The Longreach issues are slightly different to those at Emerald but I've certainly told the department they need to look for a solution to both," he said. "There may be different solutions for each."
Cr Dillon was a student in the first class to graduate from the Longreach School of Distance Education and his father was a president of the school's P&C.
With two children having graduated from the Capricornia SDE and one currently attending, he said his advocacy had been limited in order not to breach any conflicts of interest, but he was certainly aware of the social and financial benefits that being able to use facilities in both locations gave families.
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Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
