Building Connections at the ICPA NSW State Conference
For Western Landcare supporting the Annual State Conference of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of New South Wales 2026, provided the opportunity to contribute to our local community, connect with Landcare members and showcase Junior Landcare.
Capacity building - LEP23-021-33
The issue
The ICPA Conference was a powerful reminder of the resilience and passion within our remote communities. It offered invaluable insights from education providers, infrastructure partners, and—most importantly families across regional NSW about the opportunities and barriers facing rural children, from early childhood through to tertiary pathways.
An isolated child is defined as: " A child who for geographic reasons has no reasonable daily access to an appropriate school."
The solution
‘It takes a village’ – the level of investment of time and energy into making this conference a success was evident. While keeping up as delegates for their region the conference convening committee were welcoming and always ready to answer questions. There were also many family and friends helping out with whatever was needed.
The impact
‘Make the most of every opportunity’ The ICPA conference being held in a central Far West location gave Western Landcare a fantastic chance to connect with our community — catching up with members from across our vast region, listening to their ideas and concerns, and contributing to meaningful outcomes.
Learnings
Pre- and post-conference events were occasions to catch up in a more casual setting, showcasing local venues.
Relatable Keynote Speaker – Sarah Donnelley, an educator and leader with a strong background in fostering student and community growth: Big Things Grow (Allen & Unwin, 2022)
The AGM early on the second day was kept to time and ran very efficiently. This level of smooth delivery takes preparation and planning.
The Breaking Barriers Panel was a lively conversation including Far West 'treasures' who are helping to provide opportunities and access in the ‘outback’.
The conference was a family friendly event with young ones sitting in on the conference or taking advantage of the activities provided by Broken Hill Outback Mobile Resource Unit, a highly valued children's service in the remote and isolated regions of Far Western NSW.
Key facts
- ‘Parted but united’ - School of the Air (SOTA) operates two distance education campuses: Broken Hill and Hay. Broken Hill supports geographically isolated students within a 300 km radius, while Hay serves students across NSW, including families who travel, live overseas, or require medical or behavioural support. SOTA Vision: At School of the Air, we are developing learners who embrace new challenges with a positive outlook, perseverance, and resilience. Learners will be empowered to be creative, resourceful, and responsible to navigate and contribute their best effort to the world around them.