Education and Child Development Department

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (24 July 2015). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for the Public Sector): I have been advised of the following:

The term specialist behavioural workers is not an official designation for people employed in Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) schools. Teachers, School Services Officers (SSO) and other professionals employed under Public Sector Act 2009 conditions by DECD may work with students with significantly challenging behaviour. These staff members are usually employed by DECD in small, specialised and uniquely resourced centres, co-located with mainstream schools or, as in two cases, large stand-alone sites which are basically schools in their own right. Statewide Support Services also employs a number of such specialised staff, not based in centres or schools.

In addition to its specialised employees (of which there are currently 135.25 base Education Act 1972 and Public Sector Act 2009 FTE and 918 base funded SSO hours per week allocated) DECD provides around $3.784 million targeted funds to schools.

These schools then make decisions locally regarding the expenditure of these targeted funds to best meet the needs of the student/s. Additional staff are usually but not necessarily teachers and SSO. Other professional services may also be used. The additional staffing may be employed casually or on contract.