MP calls on State Government to reimburse those affected by the cancellation of country week this year

Agricultural MLC Steven Martin has called on the State Government to provide full financial reimbursements for students, teachers and families who have missed out on country week this year. More than 3800 students and 475 staff members from 54 WA high schools were due to travel to Perth in late June for School Sport WA country week, but the event was cancelled due to the latest round of lockdown restrictions in Perth and Peel. Some school buses, including several from the Great Southern, turned around when they were halfway to Perth the day before country week was set to start. Mr Martin said he was not sure why affected families and schools had been forced to wait so long for reimbursements or information on rescheduling. “Uniforms have already been bought, transport has been booked and paid for and I imagine accommodation is similar. This has happened right at the last minute,” he said. “I know how much effort the students, their teachers and parents put into preparation and fundraising for this event, so I’d like to call on the State Government to reimburse those affected by this cancellation. “I’m not blaming anyone, but I do think that those students, schools and parents out of pocket for this should be reimbursed.” The Department of Education has put out a survey to parents offering two options — cancel country week for 2021 or reschedule country week for Term 4 without Year 12 students. It is the second year in a row country week has been cancelled, meaning the class of 2021 missed out on both years of eligibility. “For their final couple of years at high school as regional students, this important and significant event has now been taken away from them,” Mr Martin said. “Students would be looking forward to this event all year. It is almost a rite of passage for country kids to go to country week.” Department of Education deputy director general of student achievement Jim Bell said reimbursements were being discussed. “The impacted schools are currently seeking feedback from the parents and carers of students set to take part about what to do next, and we look forward to confirming a decision soon after that,” he said. “It was really devastating for students that, on Department of Health advice, country week wasn’t able to go ahead as planned during Term 2. We know how much training and preparation goes into competing, not to mention it’s a really positive social experience as well.”