Page 5983 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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Preschools and childcare centres have extremely limited access to support services to assist them in dealing with children with behavioural disturbance.
There is only one preschool resource teacher and no formal allocation of counselling time to preschools. In evidence, the deputy secretary of the Department of Education and the Arts indicated that there was little hope for additional counselling resources for preschools, part of the reason being that preschools are out of the mainstream schooling system, that is, six to 15 years of age compulsory schooling. Basically, I think it is a feeble excuse and attitudes need to change.
The committee has recommended at paragraph 11.43 that the Department of Education and the Arts redirect adequate resources to early intervention programs for children with behavioural disturbance at the preschool level. I cannot overstress the importance, as the evidence indicated, of early intervention, especially in the early childhood years. The committee acknowledges that the Government is beginning to address these problems; but we have a long way to go, especially if we are to reduce the number of children falling through the system.
In 1989, due to concerns of ACT preschool teachers, the play therapy program was established with Commonwealth - not ACT, but Commonwealth - funds, and a part-time therapist was employed. In 1990, 21 children were referred to the program, but due to a lack of resources only 13 were accepted. What happened to the other eight? The program relies on an annual Commonwealth grant and has no guarantee of continuation. I personally urge the ACT Government to ensure that the program continues and, if possible, expands.
The committee made two recommendations, on page 26, with regard to the developmental screening of three-year-olds. The first recommendation is that the service be publicised and the second is that we ensure that community nurses receive ongoing training in administration of the three-year-old development test. The service is available on request and is extremely important for parents, teachers, child-care workers and health professionals who have concerns with a child's development.
As I mentioned earlier, child-care services have limited access to support services. Children's Day Care Services has acknowledged this and has appointed a special needs worker to work with children with behavioural disturbance. Considering that there are over 3,500 child-care places, additional resources need to be allocated, which is our recommendation on page 104.
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