Isolation conditions for Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Scheme 010-03030040

Item

Evidence required

1

Geographical isolation Rules 1 and 2

Most families claiming AIC due to geographical isolation do not normally need to provide evidence. If the distance(s) from the principal family home to the nearest state school(s) and/ or any transport services to those schools that are being claimed is just over the minimum AIC geographical isolation criteria, evidence is normally needed.

Send the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Marginal Distance Confirmation (SY069) form to the applicant when the distance they claim from the principal family home to the nearest:

• state school(s) under Rule 1 is between 56 and 59 km
• state school(s) under Rule 2 is between 16 and 19 km
• transport pick-up point to the state school(s) is between 4.5 and 7 km

The applicant and their local bus company proprietor and/or local government representative, (for example, shire clerk/engineer or other authority), need to complete the form.

2

Geographical isolation Rule 3, excessive travel time

When the applicant is claiming AIC due to excessive travel time, they need to provide evidence.

For example, the return travel time(s) from the principal family home to the nearest state school(s) via any transport service(s) to those schools is at least 180 minutes. This is the minimum requirement under Rule 3.

Send the SY069 form to the applicant. They and their local bus company proprietor and/or local government representative, (for example, shire clerk/engineer or other authority), need to complete the form.

3

Geographical isolation Rule 3, adverse weather conditions and/or other circumstances beyond the family's control

A statement from the school showing the actual dates of absences due to adverse conditions in previous year for either:

• the student
• a sibling, or
• a neighbouring student

If unavailable, a report stating the road or waterway was impassable on particular dates. It should state that there have been no significant upgrades since.

The reports will be accepted from:

• shire engineer/clerk
• bus company proprietor
• the local/ state/ national roads, or
• water and/or land management authority

Other circumstances beyond the family's control may be approved. Independent evidence must support the claim.

• The evidence needs to establish the circumstance and impact on the student's daily access to schooling for at least 20 school days
• Extra supporting evidence may be needed to independently verify the claim at any time

Where this is not available, evidence must be detailed enough to demonstrate the impact on daily attendance at school by:

• adverse travel conditions, or
• other circumstances

4

Geographical isolation Rule 3, parents cannot transport child

Documentation confirming that:

• the parent(s) is/are medically unfit to drive and the expected duration of this situation, or
• there is no record of a registered vehicle for parents without access to a vehicle

5

Special needs

The SY099 Medical Statement form is used as medical evidence. In some cases, it may be necessary to review the supporting medical documents provided by specialists to make an assessment.

Students with special needs should normally provide supporting evidence each year. This ensures a change in circumstances does not affect their eligibility.

Evidence is not needed for each year in the following cases:

• the student's condition is permanent and requires ongoing access to special facilities not available locally
• the evidence provided the previous year indicated the student's treatment or course will continue for the current year
• the student had a special need in year 11 and is entering year 12 at the same school (and is eligible for the year 12 Continuity of Schooling concession)
• the student has been expelled

For temporary circumstances, evidence must include an estimate of how long the condition or circumstance will continue. If an estimate is not possible, the form should be dated no earlier than 1 July of the year before the one to which the claim relates.

Claim based on students with special needs where medical evidence is not required

No evidence is needed for students needing to live full-time at a special school or at a special institution which specifically caters for students with:

• disabilities
• other health-related conditions, or
• learning difficulties

The special school/institution must meet geographical isolation rules.

For students needing testing and /or specialist learning support for a diagnosed learning difficulty, ask for:

• a statement from the relevant education authorities supporting:
• the need for the testing/support program, and
• the required testing or support is not available locally
• evidence from the school or facility giving details of the program (in the case of a student needing learning support)

An education authority could include:

• state/territory education authority
• Catholic education office, or
• similar body for other independent schools

Who can complete or provide the medical evidence?

Medical evidence is from a medical practitioner, specialist (where the condition requires specialist treatment) or in some circumstances an allied health professional.

Evidence provided by an allied health professional who must satisfy all the following criteria as a minimum. They must:

• have a demonstrated capacity to provide the evidence in relation to the special needs claim, for example a psychologist providing evidence of a special need relating to trauma
• have a tertiary qualification (as a minimum)
• be accredited and registered (as required in the state or territory) in order to provide consultation on a public or private basis

If the allied health professional meets any of the following additional criteria in relation to the special need, the evidence they provide is to be given greater weight in establishing the special need. This could be:

• a specialisation
• demonstrated experience, or
• an additional qualification, for example a Masters level qualification in clinical psychology

In exceptional circumstances, evidence may be sought from an allied health professional when:

• due to distance or isolation, it would be an unfair burden on the family to source evidence from a medical practitioner
• a medical practitioner refers the student to an allied health professional, for example, to a psychologist rather than a psychiatrist
• the medical practitioner is considered unsuitable by the family to provide advice, for example, when the only doctor near the family home is a male doctor, and the student is a female. They may wish to see a female allied health professional in cases of sexual trauma or mental health

Examples of Allied Health Professionals are (but not limited to):

• Audiologist
• Occupational Therapist
• Optometrist
• Physiotherapist
• Psychologist

Assessment of special needs medical evidence

For students needing access to special facilities for a health-related condition or students needing to live in a different environment for health reasons, the evidence needs to:

• establish the nature of the condition
• show the facilities or environment are not accessible at a local school or in the vicinity of the student's principal family home
• confirm the student's condition is better managed or overcome by access to the facilities or environment
• outline how the facility or the environment will aid the management of the condition
  Note: if the medical evidence does not specify the above, a statement from the facility or environment outlining how it will aid the management of the condition is required

For students needing to study from home, the medical evidence needs to:

• establish the nature of the condition
• show it would be harmful to the student's health (not merely a discomfort) if they were to attend school daily (excluding pregnancy)

For students needing to be removed from the local school for mental or physical health reasons or expulsion, the following must be provided:

• a statement from the chief executive of the state/territory government education authority (not local school) or their delegate stating:
• the reason for the removal of the student (in broad terms only, for example interpersonal problems affecting health, expulsion)
• the family and the school have attempted, without success, to resolve the problem, and
• there is no suitable local school that the student can attend daily
• If the removal is because of personal problems affecting mental or physical health (e.g. bullying, harassment) medical evidence to establish:
• the nature of the condition, and
• linkage between the condition and the need for the student to be removed from the local school environment

For medical conditions that are not clearly serious, the evidence must show that:

• there is no suitable medication or treatment that is both reasonably available and able to alleviate the effects of the condition
• the condition is likely to result in the student being absent from local schooling on at least 20 school days in a year

6

Suffering serious educational disadvantage at the local state school

Ask for a statement from the delegate of the CEO of the state/territory education authority (not local school):

• stating the reason that the local school is inappropriate for the student's needs
• confirming that the student would be seriously educationally disadvantaged if unable to study elsewhere; and
• that the state/territory authority has no objection to AIC allowances being paid.

7

Deemed isolated, parental work requires frequent moves

Evidence must support the applicant's claim by showing their travel is a necessary part of earning their livelihood and not just a preference.

Ask for:

• If not self-evident, (for example, occupation is show worker) then evidence that their particular trade or skills directly cause their itinerancy
• A statement from the applicant showing details of planned travel movements in the year of study and, where relevant, travel movements for the past 12 months. Locations and dates employed at those locations must be included
• Supporting evidence from employer(s) or other authorities of the family's past and proposed movements, and
• If the relocation of the family involves the placement of the majority of their belongings in storage, a statement from the storage company verifying this

8

Deemed isolated, sole parent's occupation involves frequent overnight absences

From 1 January 2006, this criterion no longer applies to new claims.

If the claim is based on the sole parent's occupation involves frequent overnight absences and the student attracted an AIC allowance in 2005 on that basis, ask for:

• a statement of projected overnight absences for the year of study and, where relevant, a statement of overnight absences, and
• supporting evidence from employer(s) or other authorities of the parent's past and proposed overnight absences

9

Deemed isolated, claim in anticipation of a change in family's circumstances that would make student eligible for AIC later in the year

Also known as reverse continuity of schooling concession.

Evidence may be needed if, a change in the family's circumstances is anticipated for later in the year that could make the student eligible for AIC, For example, if the student:

• is placed into boarding
• a second home is set up so the student has access to schooling, or
• the student commences distance education or other approved education

Back payment of AIC needs evidence showing the parent or guardian was aware of the proposed change of circumstances at the time the student started:

• boarding
• studying by distance education, or other approved education, or
• living in the second home

The type of evidence depends on the change in the family's circumstances making the student eligible for AIC later in the year.

Examples:

If a parent or guardian told of a proposed job transfer to a geographically isolated area

• Evidence would be a statement from an employer showing when they were told of the proposed job transfer

Parent or guardian told of a future change in school bus services

• Evidence would be a copy of a letter from a bus company saying when they were told of the service changes