Students forced to relocate by college closure, Duncan.

Author: Wendy Duncan
Published on: 03-December-2009

More than 100 country students and their families will lose access to affordable residential accommodation if the planned closure of Swanleigh Residential College at Middle Swan happens in 2010.

Member for Mining and Pastoral Region Hon Wendy Duncan MLC is supporting a push to keep the college open with funding support from the State Government. Swanleigh has provided a residential service to families for 50 years.

She said according to the Isolated Children’s Parents Association, the closure was due to the cessation of the Federal Rural Hostel Funding Scheme, the subsequent passing of responsibility for funding to the State Government, and the State Education Minister’s decision to withdraw support for the hostel.

"We are talking about 150 country students from throughout regional WA whose parents have chosen Swanleigh because it is affordable and it gives their children access to an appropriate education," Ms Duncan said. "Even if some of these families decide to enroll their children at their nearest country residential hostel what’s to say that there will be room at those hostels to accommodate them."

"All the current students are attending schools in Middle Swan and will be forced to change schools in order to access alternative boarding facilities. Many of these students have enrolled in specific courses or have scholarships. This seems an unfair disruption in an important time of their lives."

"I will be raising this issue with the Minister for Education seeking her assurance that quality affordable residential accommodation is available for regional students who have no option but to live away from home to further their education," Ms Duncan said.