MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has announced a boost in allowances available to isolated families for 2016 whose children need to undertake secondary study away from home.
Mr Marshall said next year the base allowance rate for the Living Away from Home Allowance (LAFHA) would be $2,000, a 40 per cent increase on this year. Additionally, Year 11 and 12 isolated students will be offered a supplementation of $460, up from $334 this year.
“Some parents raising children in rural and remote NSW have to travel enormous distances to get to a secondary school,” Mr Marshall said.”
“Increasing the LAFHA recognises this challenge and provides some financial support to the family.
“The LAFHA provides an opportunity to many families to broaden educational options when they live too far away from a secondary school to attend on a daily basis.”
The NSW Government initiated the review of the LAFHA at the request of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association.
“The rebasing of the LAFHA now better reflects education costs against the consumer price index,” Mr Marshall said.
“The allowance will continue to be means tested so that the basic and supplementary payments can better support those who need it most.”
LAFHA is available to students who are boarding, to attend public and non-government secondary schools.
Details of the allowance and application procedures are available on the Department’s websitewww.schools.nsw.edu.au/rde/scholarships/lafha/index.php or by calling the Rural and Distance Education Team on 02 6334 8070.