The move into the world of social media and its way of connecting with a whole new audience was completed on Thursday when the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association launched its #iamICPA campaign.
Described as an effort to increase awareness of rural and remote education while also engaging its own member base, secretary Gillian Semple said it marked the start of an exciting new story for the rural lobby group.
“You are all invited to join it,” she said.
The campaign consists of short video clips of people from a cross-section of regional, remote and rural communities sharing who they are and why ICPA is important to them.
They’ve included boarding school representatives, isolated students, musician Josh Arnold, and Tambo’s butcher.
In the words of ICPA Queensland publicity officer, Natalie Kenny, it “showcases our wonderful, vibrant communities and the people who live in them”.
“As we’ve been saying, we have to show people how wonderful our communities are to live in if we want to attract new families,” she said.
The #iamICPA campaign also endeavors to raise the profile of ICPA Queensland, both within its member base and also to the broader community.
According to vice president, Louise Martin, they wanted to strengthen the organisation's profile in their rural communities as well as with educational stakeholders who influence decision making.
President Kim Hughes said it was important to encourage the next generation of ICPA members to engage with the organisation, and raise awareness that lobbying pertains to the needs of all students in Queensland's regional, rural and remote areas, from state and independent schools through to those attending agricultural or training colleges.
Belinda Finger, mother of five, whose children attend the Mistake Creek State School gave the concept the thumbs up.
"I've loved watching the #iamICPA clips and it's been a great reminder of the work ICPA does in lobbying for schools like ours, especially in regards to issues such as bus runs, teacher education and student/teacher ratios,” she said.
Natalie urged fellow members or interested people to add their own short videos by using the #iamICPA hashtag via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, to build the momentum.