Page 1770 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 4 June 2014
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government early intervention services in 2015. My understanding is that this was the directorate’s intent and, indeed, that this has already started. But I certainly welcome the confirmation in the amendment for providing parents with assurance.
The second observation refers to families receiving timely information about new service providers available in the area of early intervention by holding an expo of providers early in term 4, giving parents the opportunity to investigate and research and have conversations with the people that they will be entrusting the care and development of their children to. It is crucial that parents feel at ease with their choices, and that their choices are as wide as possible. An expo may not be the only opportunity parents have to investigate services but, with the time frames involved in this, parents need all the assistance they can get as quickly as possible. Any shortcuts to this that the government can facilitate, I think, are to be welcomed.
The third observation that my office contributed was that the government report to the Assembly with regard to readiness of early intervention providers as soon as possible after the start of term 4. If there are not enough providers with their hands up, if there is not a full suite of providers to meet the needs of the current early intervention clients, then we need to know, and we need to know well before the end of the school year.
I welcome the minister’s public commitment, made also at the forum on Monday, that no child in need of early intervention services in 2015 will be left not provided for. This is an important assurance for parents, carers and families to hear. It means that the government is not walking away from its responsibilities. Rather, the government is aiming to facilitate what was always going to be a tricky transition but understands that that transition is entirely their responsibility.
I note one of the Liberal members in their earlier remarks—I forget who—was quite cynical about that undertaking and quite dismissive about that undertaking from the minister. When it comes to really trying to summarise my remarks today and think about where this conversation leads, I think it is easy to ask all the questions. It is easy to be cynical about comments people are trying to make. But this is a major transition. There is no doubt it is difficult. There is no doubt there are some unanswered and unanswerable questions at this point in time.
That does not mean that the staff in the directorates are not working their insides out to make sure that this is done well and as smoothly as possible. I have chatted to some of the staff. I know how hard they are working. I know that they are really conscious of the fact that there are questions that they do not have all the answers to yet, and I know, in talking to the minister this week in preparing for this motion, that she has the same considerations.
I do not doubt the enormity of this change. I do not doubt that people are nervous. But I think the important thing, and the reason I will support the amendment that has been brought forward today, is that it sets out some clear undertakings and sets out the information that is available and processes to try to close the gaps where the information is available.
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