Extracts from submissions
Maurine Gibson, Social Planner, Wide Bay Burnett, Qld
"One low income family with several children said they could not afford the petrol money to travel each day to the nearest bus stop- 20km, so their teenage son did not attend high school. He received distance education material, but his parents did not have sufficient education themselves to assist him. They had no phone, so he could not access phone support. The parents were attempting to educate the younger children themselves. A number of families with young children did not send them to school due to the bus travel time, and the condition of the roads. This would mean young children leaving home at 7am and getting home at 5, and they felt this was too much for their age."
Vivienne Atkinson, Parent, Quilpie, Qld
"Gifted and talented children can come from rural and remote communities and not necessarily from families who are in a financial situation to promote and further these children's talents, abilities and ambitions. It's much cheaper to have a child live at home, than to set him/her up in rented accommodation."
Last updated 2 December 2001.
