Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (29 February) . . Page.. 578 ..


MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NUMBER 144

Children with Disabilities - Support Services

MS McRAE - asked the Minister for Education and Training on notice on 20 February 1996:

(1) Who plans for the emerging needs for children with disabilities.

(2) What statistics are used, by whom, to predict and manage the level of support services needed by children with disabilities and their carers.

MR STEFANIAK - the answer to Ms McRae's question is:

(1) The emerging needs of individual students with disabilities are determined each year, within budgetary and resource constraints, by the In School Review Panel comprised of the school's principal, class teacher, itinerant teacher, school counsellor and parents.

Children accessing early intervention services may be assessed by paediatricians, Child Health Medical Officers and the Child Health and Development Service in order to determine their level of resourcing needs.

At the system level strategic planning for students with disabilities is carried out by the Central Office of my department.

(2) Because of the fluid nature of the ACT population, statistics are not reliable predictors of establishing need for special services and allocation of resources is dependent on evaluation of individual educational needs.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .