REGIONAL towns are suffering when it comes time for country kids to go to high school. Often relocation is near forced on parents as they seek the best education for their children.
Walgett is just one town bearing the brunt of this problem.
"We are talking about keeping people in our communities because education is key to that," said Cameron Rowntree, from the Walgett East branch of NSW Farmers.
The branch this year successfully moved a motion at NSW Farmers' annual conference calling on governments to help rural and remote NSW educate the next generation, after a series of local meetings.
Mr Rowntree said consensus from those meetings was that Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) federal funding should be increased and made available to all families in rural and remote areas, including those close to town.
Currently access to funding is limited to families who live at least 56 kilometres from the nearest appropriate state school, live at least 4.5km from the nearest transport service to that school or don't have reasonable access to a state school for least 20 days a year because of adverse travel conditions.
Robin Beckwith, one of two plumbers in Walgett who service an area of 250km radius, has been lobbying the federal government to access AIC so he can live in the town and send his children to boarding school.
"In Walgett there are only two options for high school - send our children away to boarding school or to the local Community College, which we don't feel is safe or up to standard," Mr Beckwith said, who will be meeting with Parkes MP Mark Coulton on Monday.
"Boarding school is expensive and is getting beyond the reach of ordinary people. We are going to fight to have the AIC criteria changed so we can stay.
"If we can't get the AIC funding then we will have to leave, and we are not alone. We have already lost a police officer and electrician in the last year."
Isolated Children's Parents Association NSW president Claire Butler said families could apply to bypass a local school and receive AIC under special circumstances.
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the government had invested more than $9 million in Walgett Community College and was committed to ensuring all students in the area received a high-quality education.
"As a mum from the regions, I am committed to making sure every student in NSW, no matter where they live, has access to the highest quality education," Ms Mitchell said.
"I encourage anyone with concerns about education in their local area to contact my office directly."
Journalist based on the Mid North Coast for The Land.
Journalist based on the Mid North Coast for The Land.
