Press release
Dec 2, 2009
Rural Education Program injects $50,000 into outback kids’ education
More isolated families will receive support next year to educate their children, thanks
to a $50,000 philanthropic boost to a national tutor volunteer scheme.
The Rural Education Program (REP) today announced it would inject a further
$50,000 into Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education (VISE).
The funds are specifically for travel expenses for VISE volunteers offering relief
tutoring for children on stations and in isolated areas.
REP chairman Tim Fairfax said REP was responding to an urgent need for more
trained tutors in the outback.
“Many outback families are too embarrassed to ask for VISE volunteers because they
can’t afford to pay the volunteers’ fuel expenses which in some cases can be as much
as $1500,” Mr Fairfax said.
“This will help break down that barrier and place more VISE tutors out there to help
those families who urgently need relief tutoring and additional support to educate
their children.”
VISE CEO Mike Stock said the REP boost, on top of its earlier $200,000 donation,
was vital and would enable VISE to continue with its important work.
“This will double the amount of families we’ll be able to help next year, including
those with children experiencing reading difficulties,” Mr Stock said.
Since it was established in 1989, VISE has matched thousands of tutors with families
living on stations or in isolated pockets of the country.
The tutors, who are mostly retired teachers, offer educational trouble shooting
services and/or relief tutoring usually six weeks at a time while living with families.
Last year 217 VISE tutors assisted 333 Prep to Year 12 children from 217 families
living as far afield as the Pilbara in Western Australia across the Northern Territory to
Mt Isa in Queensland and down into north western NSW.
VISE receives some funds from the NT and Queensland governments but relies
largely on donations and philanthropy.
REP was established in 2003 by the Myer, Fairfax and Calvert-Jones families to boost
opportunities for country kids whose education is compromised by isolation and
natural disaster.
Media contacts
Tim Fairfax, Chairman, Rural Education Program (REP) 0418 713946
Mike Stock, CEO, Volunteers for Isolated Students’ Education (VISE) 0412 634312
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