House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-28 Daily Xml

Contents

DISABLED STUDENTS, NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

142 Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (17 July 2012). With respect to 2012-13 Budget Paper 6, vol. 2, p. 39—

The 'More Support for Students with Disabilities National Partnership: non-Government Schools' funding is described as to 'assist schools through a range of initiatives including professional support of teachers and school support staff to build their capacity to deliver special education programs through support and use of assistive learning technology and a range of other learning modes.'—

(a) will this support be available to teachers and SSOs in all schools and if not, why not?

(b) if only certain schools are eligible to receive this support, which schools are they and on what basis have those schools been chosen?

(c) will these funds be used to acquire assistive learning technology explanation and if so, what sort of technology does this include?

(d) what is the 'range of other learning modes' as described in the program explanation referring to?

(e) are there any other initiatives that will be supported by this National Partnerships in addition to those just described?

(f) is this program designed to assist students with disabilities in special schools, students with disabilities participating in special education programs in mainstream schools, or students with disabilities who are participating in mainstream school programs?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development): I have been advised of the following:

The National Partnership—More Support for Students with Disabilities: non-government schools involves a direct agreement between non-government schools and the Commonwealth Government.

The State Government does not place conditions on non-government schools regarding how they implement the National Partnership.

The manner in which each school or education sector applies the funding from the National Partnership is a matter for them in accordance with their agreement with the Commonwealth Government.