Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced extra funding for Queensland’s Schools of Distance Education to help relieve the financial pressures faced by drought-affected families.
Ms Palaszczuk said up to $250,000 in extra funding would be distributed this year through the Rural and Remote Education Access Program.
“We know there are many Queensland families out there doing it really tough because of the drought,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“And that includes many families with children enrolled in one of Queensland’s seven state Schools of Distance Education.
“This extra funding will help these schools reduce the extra costs to families of participating in school activities such as residential camps and mini-schools.
“These face-to-face activities are an important part of the distance education curriculum and they help to maximise learning outcomes for students.”
Education Minister Kate Jones said the funding would be allocated next month to support programs across Terms 2 and 3, when most of the face-to-face programs occur.
“This extra funding doubles the amount previously available to Schools of Distance Education through RREAP and schools will work with their communities to determine how best to use it,” Ms Jones said.
“I would like to thank the distance education principals for raising this issue with me and with the department so we were able to take action and offer extra support.”
