House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-09-08 Daily Xml

Contents

SCHOOL OF THE AIR

481 The Hon. G.M. GUNN (Stuart) (19 May 2009). Why are there high costs associated with accessing the internet educational programs from the School of the Air and will there be any increase in the level of State Government funding to support this program?

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide): Internet access costs are set by the commercial telecommunications carriers. Parents can access services from the commercial telecommunications carrier of their choice.

The Department of Education and Children's Services recently increased the funding to Open Access College for the provision of internet services to School of the Air families for 2009 and 2010. A review is planned to be undertaken in 2010.

In December 2008 the Department of Education and Children's Services increased funding by 50 per cent for the provision of internet services to remote and isolated School of the Air families, bringing the funding to $30,000 annually.

In addition, the Open Access College receives $50,000 to provide assistance to remote and isolated families in the purchase of computers for their children's education.