Autism Inclusion Teachers

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:52): I seek leave to provide a brief explanation before asking questions of the parliamentary secretary to the Premier in her capacity as Assistant Minister for Autism on the topic of autism inclusion teachers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: On 14 October 2024, the parliamentary secretary posted an image on her Instagram page of her delivering a press conference regarding autism inclusion teachers. I quote from the caption: 'Autism Inclusion Teachers are heading into secondary schools'. My questions to the—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: It is a pretty important topic, and I would like to get an update from the parliamentary secretary, thank you. My questions to the parliamentary secretary in her capacity as Assistant Minister for Autism are:

1. What stakeholders were consulted during the process for making it mandatory for educational support workers to undertake autism learnings?

2. How many autism inclusion teachers are there currently in South Australia, and how many vacancies are there?

3. Can one autism inclusion teacher be appointed at multiple schools?

4. How many South Australian autism inclusion teachers are living with autism?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:54): I thank the member for her question. I did just miss the start of it when you said—was it regarding autism inclusion teachers going into secondary schools?

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Yes.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: So that is a question for the education minister. It was an announcement just—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: —recently, but you have—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Sit down. The Hon. Mr Hunter, the Hon. Ms Girolamo and the honourable Leader of the Opposition, order!

The Hon. H.M. Girolamo interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Girolamo!

The Hon. K.J. Maher: You're testing our patience.

The PRESIDENT: You are testing my patience. Parliamentary secretary, can you please answer so we can hear.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: I would love to answer so you can hear.

The PRESIDENT: I am sorry, go on.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Thank you for the question. Autism inclusion teachers have been incredibly successful in our primary schools, and we are now looking at options to go into high schools, but, as you would be aware, I am not the Minister for Education. You have asked for quite a range of data and that relates to the education minister, so I will refer that to him.