Special Education Support

Federation reaffirms is opposition to DET changes to special education support for students in regular schools. The proposed new model changes the way over 1800 support teacher positions are allocated and utilised in schools, and the way funding is allocated for students with autism and mental health disorders receiving $6,000 or less per annum to support their educational programs.

Representatives of the peak stakeholder groups and unions met on 7 October at DET Head Office to consider the evaluation of the trial of these changes in the Illawarra and South East Region. No documentation was provided at the meeting. While a number of powerpoint slides with findings and recommendations were presented by the private consultancy that conducted the evaluation, relevant data were not provided. Participants were expected to accept a recommendation that a new model should be implemented state-wide in 2011, without the supporting evidence.

While principals, support teachers, classroom teachers, learning support officers and parents had participated in surveys, focus groups and/or interviews, their views and experiences were not provided to their state level representatives as part of the evaluation. This reinforced the view that DET management developed this model a couple of years ago and intends to impose it, regardless of the views and concerns of those directly affected in schools.