The Rural Population Transformation and Education in Australia

Authors

  • David McSwan James Cook University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v13i2.495

Keywords:

social justice, equity, rural policy

Abstract

This paper aims to relate the Australian data on rural-urban migration and economic change to education. It illustrates that there has been scant polity attention to the fundamental role ofeducation in the changing nature ofAustralia's rural areas. Australla's rural policy has been firmly driven by the massive political power ofthe rural industries and mining lobbies; the voice ofrural communities being lost to the winds. Governments should be alert to the needs ofrural Australia. Issues of social justice and equity are being raised and heard as never before and ordinary Australians are increasingly aware of, and cherish, our rural communities, our rural image. and our sense-ofourselves as sharing a rural heritage. Recent data show that regional Australia, in favoured areas, is prospering. A number ofpolicy considerations are canvassed with the conclusion that leading-edge information and communications technologies are an essential prerequisite if regional Australia is to prosper and metropolitan areas and the south-east are to avoid undesirable crowding. Isolated rural areas are more problematic and a policy approach to a sustainable future for them is not immediately apparent to the author.

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Published

01-07-2003

How to Cite

McSwan, D. (2003). The Rural Population Transformation and Education in Australia. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 13(2), 3–26. https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v13i2.495