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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-02-05 Daily Xml
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Bushfire Recovery Support

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (16:54): My question is for the Minister for Education. Can the minister update the house on the practical relief being provided to families, staff and students in bushfire-affected communities?

The Hon. A. Piccolo: He's already told us that today.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Light is called to order.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (16:55): I thank the member for Colton for the question. As the Minister for Education, I obviously have a role, and I have information that I think most members of the house would be interested in. As the member for Morialta, can I say that I am really pleased to have the opportunity to reflect on this issue. I will do so more in the Address in Reply and on the motion that has been put on the Notice Paper.

It has been a significantly traumatic time for my community, for the community of the member for Kavel, for the community of the member for Mawson and a range of other people around South Australia, and I just want to take this opportunity to place on the record my absolute regard and respect for everyone who has been volunteering, for everyone who has been in paid employment, working in the relief, the response and the recovery efforts so far. My community is very grateful for that support.

There is a lot of trauma confronting people in bushfire-affected areas. As the Minister for Education, we take a particular role in relation to trying to relieve and support the needs of the children in our community whose futures are so important for all of us. There are a range of immediate measures and a range of longer term measures that we are looking at, that we have already taken and that we are also looking at for potentially expanding that response from the Department for Education.

Already, we have identified that for affected families no school fees will be applied in the 2020 school year, there has been the provision of free child care, all replacement uniform costs have been covered, replacement of laptops, iPads and other electronic educational devices have been covered and there has been dedicated and targeted welfare support for students and staff. I also acknowledge the efforts of the federal government in providing direct financial support for families as, indeed, it is has been supported by the state government. I do not think there is a minister in this cabinet who has not had a role to play in supporting these communities, including their children.

All students and staff directly affected by the bushfires at Duck Ponds, Yorketown, Keilira, Cudlee Creek and Ravine are eligible to benefit from these measures. The department has identified families impacted by the Ravine fire to enable the delivery of targeted support. Work is currently underway to identify families impacted by other declared bushfires to offer the same support. Ongoing support needs will be reassessed and a long-term psychological support plan for employees will be established that will comprise regular onsite support, telephone counselling and mental health/recovery-focused workshops.

Since 13 January, the department has facilitated trauma-focused support and counselling. This will continue during term 1 as a minimum, and we will reassess needs as we go. In addition to these overarching measures, we have also been working with specific schools that have been impacted. We will be providing extended bus services on Kangaroo Island for the 2020 school year, including a door-to-door service where possible. This has been arranged between the Transport Services Unit and the principal of Kangaroo Island Community Education. The school transport policy will not apply on the island.

Staff at the Kingscote Children's Centre have been impacted by the fires, so the centre has been staffed by volunteers. A creche service is being provided for the Kangaroo Island preschool. Lobethal Community Kindergarten has been supporting a creche with resources for four to six year olds since 10 January, and the Social Work Incident Support Service (SWISS) was available on Kangaroo Island during week 1 to assist in supporting children, families and staff. I spoke to the staff who were being supported when we were on the island and they very much appreciate it. Work will go on with the school to reassess the need for ongoing support there.

The SWISS team has also been providing support to schools and preschools situated in Birdwood, Oakbank and Lenswood, with a backup team of social workers being taken offline to support schools. They are liaising with the child and wellbeing practitioners, mental health services, SA Health and the child protection department to provide a coordinated response to schools. Extra teachers and leadership have been provided to schools to back up those staff particularly who have needed to take special leave.

On the island, in particular, these staff have been fighting fires. They have not had a rest since the fires began. Then, when school started, the children have demonstrated their resilience at school, but a lot of those staff are very tired and so those extra staff have been provided by the department to assist during the first month. Indeed, at the end of the month, we will be reassessing with the principal what further supports are needed so that that can continue. Similarly, extra staff support is being provided to schools in the Hills. I will add further to this in my responses in the Address in Reply.

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