Page 2234 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 23 June 2010
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A tender process is open, transparent and competitive. It rewards innovation and new ideas and it takes the politics out of funding decisions. Any organisation whose services align to the government’s priorities identified by the comprehensive consultation is free to tender. The tender will be for two years, with a third year as an option. This will overcome the uncertainty of annual grant applications and provide non-government organisations with the capacity to develop their programs in the long term.
The fact is that, while the commonwealth’s targeted program has been discontinued, funding is still available to support non-government organisations providing programs for children and young people with a disability. In fact, the ACT government spends more on disability education today than ever before. From 2001 to 2010, funding for disability education has increased by around 60 per cent, from less than $30 million under the Liberals to $46.7 million today.
But not every service is guaranteed funding forever and I am determined to listen to the entire community and to deliver the priorities the whole community has identified—helping students in years 9 and 10 get ready for work and life, supporting individual learning plans and teaching sexual health.
Mr Doszpot’s motion makes a number of other statements which are not entirely correct. I have not repeatedly refused to meet with organisations. Each organisation has sought a meeting with me. And in each case the officials working directly on the funding, and members of my staff, have met with the organisation, and in my opinion, with a forthcoming tender process in train, that is more appropriate. I think it should remain at arm’s length from ministers.
I know yesterday the Liberal Party were determined to turn the Legislative Assembly into a selection committee and it seems today they are determined to turn the Legislative Assembly into a diary meeting. I think the people of Canberra would be better served by a chamber of serious policy debate.
The motion states that the Department of Education and Training lack staff to support children and young people who are deaf or hearing impaired and their families. The department has 16 specialist teaching positions for the provision of programs to support children from the time of their diagnosis to the end of schooling. With up-to-date methods for early testing for hearing impairment, these services can commence shortly after birth.
The Department of Education and Training also provides a range of early intervention programs across the ACT. In 2010 there are 39 programs, including playgroups that cater for children from two to six years of age who have or are at risk of developmental delay or disability. These programs cater for 322 children at any one time. Children from the age of three with higher and more complex needs can also access early childhood programs in special schools. These programs cater for 78 students. In addition, Therapy ACT provides speech pathology programs for children and young people with hearing impairment. These services are highly valued by ACT families.
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