Answers to Questions

Autism Assessments

In reply to the Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO ().2 May 2024).

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: The Minister for Education, Training and Skills has advised:

The school and Department for Education are closely engaged with the family to support the student's needs and school attendance, while also ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all staff and students. The school has acted at all times to ensure a safe environment for everyone. This includes providing the student with a full-time SSO to support his learning.

Any suggestion of the student being in solitary confinement is incorrect.

Autism assessments are not made by the Department for Education.

The South Australian government released a tender to provide eligible school students with access to autism assessments at no cost to their families. Whilst the program will prioritise students in northern Adelaide at risk of being disengaged from education, it will also add to the number of people in South Australia able to benefit from an autism assessment, including those currently awaiting assessment in the public system.