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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1586 ..
Health care in the home is also being strongly supported in this budget. Smaller initiatives which really matter to clients are being funded, such as $22,000 to fund the first breast prosthesis for public and partially insured patients following a mastectomy, meaning up to $420 for a woman undergoing a bilateral mastectomy. Currently these patients receive no support unless they are pensioners, to whom support is limited to $130.
This budget also continues the government's commitment to disability services. I know that the commitment of Mr Moore, and the former health minister, Mrs Carnell, to this area of the budget is very strong.
In recognition of the demands on older Canberrans who play the role of carers for people with disabilities, $845,000 is provided in 2000-01, rising to almost $6 million over four years, to fund respite services for these people. The primary help group here will be people aged over 65 who have cared for their children for 30 years or more. That there are so many of those in this community, Mr Speaker, is another sign of that social capital about which I spoke before.
We will provide $250,000 for clinical and community services for young people, particularly those with autism and cerebral palsy. That money will also be used to fund therapy services for children in special schools. These areas are particularly demanding on carers. Strategies to promote self-management and independence will be developed, but the provision of services in this area will aim to decrease the necessity for crisis intervention.
Education and Sport
Like health, education is one of this government's top priorities, and a program of new initiatives centred on education and family services is another key feature of this budget. For the sixth consecutive year the government fulfils its commitments to the maintenance of real terms funding for schools.
The government was delighted to conclude an enterprise bargaining agreement with the ACT's public school teachers two weeks ago which will lead to significant changes to the way the profession develops and works in the ACT. The EBA will guarantee a continually improving standard of teaching quality in the territory, with staff to be subject to annual performance appraisals and given much greater access to professional development than ever before. That is because we care about a quality education system, and quality teachers are an integral part of a quality system.
The budget forecasts lower teacher numbers during the next financial year, but that is entirely linked to lower projected enrolments. This reduction of 10 teachers across the system will be met through natural attrition.
Funding will be made available for major improvements at schools around Canberra:
- $1.6 million for a two-year project to upgrade technology teaching facilities at Wanniassa High School and Hawker College.
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