| Your situation | Conditions you need to meet to be geographically isolated |
|---|---|
| Your family home is 56 km or more from the nearest suitable government school. | If your family home is 56 km or more from the nearest suitable government school, we consider you geographically isolated. |
| Your family home is more than 16 km but less than 56 km from the nearest suitable government school. | You also need to meet 1 of the following:
|
| Your child can't get to the nearest suitable government school for at least 20 days a school year. | This must be due to circumstances beyond your control. For example, adverse weather conditions. |
How we measure distance
We measure how far your child would travel to the school from the family home, using the nearest transport service along the shortest practical route.
If transport isn’t available, you might need to ask for a transport service or pick-up point for your child. You’ll need to contact either your child’s school, the council or government.
If there’s no transport, we measure the shortest practical route from the family home to the nearest suitable government school.
If travel routes vary, we use the average distance. You need to tell us if either:
- there’s more than one pick up point your child could use on the transport route
- the distance to the school differs between morning and afternoon, depending on the transport service.
Examples of Measuring distance from the family home to the nearest suitable government school
Bethany lives with her parents on a property and goes to the nearest suitable government school, which is 30 km away. Bethany’s family home is 1 km from the nearest transport service to her school.
Bethany isn’t eligible because of 2 things. These are that:
- there’s public transport to her school less than 4.5 km from her home
- the school is less than 56 km from her home.
Ben goes to the same local school as Bethany. He lives 36 km from the school, and 6 km from the nearest public transport service.
Ben is eligible because of 2 things. These are that:
- he lives at least 4.5 km from the school pick up point
- the school is at least 16 km from his home.
Example of the nearest suitable government school
The nearest suitable government school is one that offers schooling at the grade or year your child can enrol in.
A selective or specialist school may be the nearest suitable government school if 2 things apply. These are that:
- it’s the nearest government school
- your child goes to the school.
Example of when a selective or specialist school isn’t the nearest suitable government school
Craig wants to send his son David to a specialist agricultural school 60 km away from their family home. The nearest suitable government school is a school 13 km away from the family home. Craig can’t get Assistance for Isolated Children to send David to the specialist school because of these 2 reasons:
- It’s not the nearest suitable government school.
- The family home isn’t geographically isolated from the nearest suitable government school.
Example of when a selective or specialist school is the nearest suitable government school
Sarah boards away from home to go to a selective government school 58 km away from her principal family home. Sarah’s parents can get Assistance for Isolated Children to send Sarah to the selective school because of 2 reasons:
- It’s also the nearest suitable government school.
- Their family home is geographically isolated from it.
The nearest government school might not be suitable if it has a limited program.
Check if there are limited program schools in your state or territory.
Australian Capital Territory and Victoria don't have any limited program schools.
Your child’s situation may also mean the nearest government school isn’t suitable.
| Child’s situation | Nearest suitable government school |
|---|---|
|
They have a disability, health condition or special education need. |
The nearest school with a suitable program and facilities for your child. |
|
They’re doing tertiary study to meet their state or territory minimum education or training requirements. |
The nearest government school that offers schooling at the grade or year your child can enrol in. |
|
There’s more than one government school within 56 km of home. |
The government school with a travel service nearest to home. |