Page 5993 - Week 18 - Thursday, 12 December 1991
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Diet in particular, particularly for young children, was almost exclusively avoided; but I think it is very important for young children. We see a hyperactive child go into a clinic over and over again, and it is unfortunate that the parent is told that the child is just growing up. There is a lot more to it than just growing up, and in terms of diet it is unfortunate that we did not address this issue for young people, because it is very important.
There will also be some people who will question, and rightly so, why the value or otherwise of religious education, unemployment, the social cost of higher education retention rates in the ACT and the changing patterns of society's awareness of many of these associated issues were not sufficiently addressed. School discipline but, perhaps more importantly, acceptable behaviour for a young toddler should have received attention during the committee's deliberations.
I think the point is worth reiterating that often professionals reassure parents that their son's or daughter's behaviour is only part of growing up. Evidence was given to the committee, by parents of now teenage young people with behavioural disturbance, that repeated requests for help at an early age went unnoticed and were ignored. Many of the submissions came from primary schools, and I think more emphasis should have been placed on speaking with and taking evidence from parents and carers of young people with behavioural disturbance. Also, attempts should have been made to speak with, even on an informal basis, young people with behavioural disturbance and young people in the classroom.
I think the evidence focused very much on the education professional, and perhaps the focus should have related to the health professionals. In my view, most of the problems are there from the child's very first years. I urge the Government to put more focus on the coordination of services rather than on the provision of services. I went on in my dissenting report to mention the non-government sector and the large problem provided by bureaucratic red tape. While I would not normally single out any individual organisation, I would like particularly to place on record the work of Marymead and Barnardo's. They do excellent work in this very complex area.
I have said, in conclusion, that the report lacks vision and a comprehensive five-year strategy, and will do little to change the status quo. Behavioural problems will continue to be a major issue in our community, and I hope that this report will be the beginning of the problem receiving the attention it rightly deserves.
In conclusion, I should like to thank the other members of the committee, as well as the previous committee chairman, Bill Wood. The inquiry received considerable attention from many people who were very hopeful of an outcome that
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