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

The AIC Scheme helps families in isolated areas with the extra costs to educate their children.

Isolation from an appropriate state school is one of the eligibility conditions for payment.

A student is considered isolated when their family circumstances fall into one of the following categories:

• Geographical isolation
• Students with special needs
• Students deemed to be isolated

AIC allowances are for the families of students who do not have reasonable daily access to an appropriate state school.

This is determined by considering the distance and travel circumstances between the:

• principal family home, and
• nearest appropriate state school

The state or territory government Department of Education decides if a school, or years of study, have limited programs.

Limited program or 'bypass' schools' are not appropriate state schools when determining a student's geographic isolation for AIC eligibility.

If the student is studying in a year in which the school offers a limited program, the next closest appropriate state school is used for assessing isolation.

These schools can be primary or secondary schools that:

• do not offer a full range of years or grades
• do not have facilities or programs for a student to gain a year 12 certificate or equivalent, or tertiary entrance score
• have syllabus and teaching arrangements for specific student groups that may be considered limited compared to the general curriculum of the state or territory

Remote community schools that mainly cater for Indigenous students are limited program schools in:

• Western Australia (WA)
• South Australia (SA)
• Northern Territory (NT)