There’s a kind of quiet power that comes from sitting in a room full of rural women who are fiercely advocating for their kids. That was the energy at this year’s Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association QLD Conference in St George.
As I stood among these incredible mums, educators, and community leaders, I was completely humbled. It’s how I feel every year we go.
We have been attending ICPA since 2016 when Pop was called Spot Rural Speech Therapy, and I had to explain to people what the word “telehealth” meant. Zoom was new technology and most of my clients were still unsure about making payments online. How far the world has come in 9 short years!
Hearing a delegate explain why she needed physical school booklets (not digital ones) because her family would be droving — schooling their kids from horseback and bush camps for most of the term — was a stark reminder that some of these families live in a completely different world. One of extreme isolation from education and health services. The ICPA isn’t just about advocacy, it lobbies for things that we consider vital to survival. Equity in access to basic education for our kids.
It was a reminder that education isn’t (and shouldn’t be) one-size-fits-all, and the systems we build need to reflect the realities of those who live far beyond the reach of city infrastructure. It was a reminder of why Pop exists, and the problems that we solve.
From conversations with SPELD about remote psychoeducational assessments, to reconnecting with long term Pop families and hearing about their children’s journeys, this conference was more than an event. It was a chance to reflect on our impact, recognise the work still ahead, and renew our commitment to equitable access for all kids — no matter their postcode.
There’s so much more to do and I can’t wait to spill the beans on what we have planned next!!
Changing the Lives of ICPA Families
What truly moved me were the full-circle moments. I was approached by a mum who said working with Pop was life-changing. Another introduced me to someone new and said, “This is my child’s first speech therapist.” Her son is now 11, and when I first met him, he was under 4 — struggling to access basic care.
That lack of services available for this little guy is one of the main reasons I walked away from my government role and launched Pop full-time. To see his mother now — confident, composed, and standing tall as a delegate advocating for others — was the most powerful reminder of why we do what we do. Pop might have been a part of her story once, but now she’s helping rewrite the education narrative for her whole community.
I spoke with a dedicated ICPA mother whose boy was off to boarding school again this year.
They were another family who inspired me to continue Pop’s mission.
I still remember him as a little grade one cowboy who changed my life.
Although his fierce mum was sceptical of telehealth, she learned about me through the ICPA and was open to listening when I said speech therapy offers so much more than just learning to eat, read, speak, and write.
During primary school, he and one of his friends saw me almost every week for therapy from their home schoolrooms, Grandma’s house, and saw other therapists while I was on maternity leave.
Speech therapy offers so much more than just learning to eat, read, speak, and write.
Nine years on and most rural towns still cannot provide a Speech Pathology service with availability, let alone a Speech Pathology service with the bespoke training in exactly what those boys needed. So perhaps without realising it, those cowboys and their fierce mothers, helped me to build the service that I dreamed would one day be available to all rural families.
Pop now employs over 65 Speech Pathologists and I have great pride in the collective knowledge and bespoke training that we can offer to anyone in the bush.
Who is the ICPA ?
The Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) is a voluntary, non-profit, apolitical parent body dedicated to ensuring all geographically isolated children’s educational needs and aspirations are not disadvantaged because of where they live.
Since its founding in 1971 in Bourke, NSW, the ICPA has grown into a national organisation representing over 2,500 families and individual members across Australia.
How does the ICPA work ?
The ICPA operates through a network of state branches, each addressing local issues while contributing to national advocacy efforts. Members can join their local branch to participate in discussions, propose motions at conferences, and collaborate on initiatives aimed at improving educational access for isolated children.
To learn more about the ICPA and how to become a member, visit their website: https://icpa.com.au/
The History of the ICPA and Pop
I became involved in the ICPA through the influence of my parents, who volunteered for years for their local branch, lobbying for better access to education and other opportunities for bush kids like myself and my three siblings. My mum used to come to every ICPA conference with me in those early years.
I was thrilled to see my childhood friend Sophie Wright has become a delegate for Nebo this year. Our parents had once been members of ICPA together – and so the advocacy is passed onto the next generation!
Looking for Accessible Speech Therapy?
With over 65 speech therapists providing Australia-wide video call sessions, Pop offers personalised speech therapy that fits into your life – wherever you are.
Book a Free Discovery Call today and see how Pop can support your child’s communication journey.
