Strathfield South High School Hearing Support Unit teacher Sandra Carter (above) tells politicians at the Special Education Forum that she is concerned that the New Teacher Training Initiative for Teachers of the Deaf does not meet the competencies of the managing body of the Australian Association of Teachers of the Deaf. (From top right) Linda Burney, Lee Rhiannon, Arthur Chesterfield-Evans and Brad Hazzard.

Special education must be an election priority

By Bob Lipscombe

The need for political parties to commit to greater investment in special education was a common theme during a special education forum at Parliament House on February 20.

More than 70 special education teachers attended the forum to hear Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Education Minister Linda Burney, Opposition education spokesman Brad Hazzard, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon and Democrats' Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, and call for improvements in special education.

The invited speakers outlined their party's position on special education and then faced questions from the audience. Questions covered a range of issues such as the training of teachers of the hearing impaired, the resourcing of emotionally disturbed/behaviour (ED/BD) disorder schools and units, the inappropriate classification of students and staffing, and occupational health and safety.

The forum was organised as part of Federation's state election campaign and reflects the fact that, as one of its priority demands for the state election, the union is calling for greater support for students with identified needs, including those with disabilities and learning difficulties who require special targeted programs.

While continuing to acknowledge that the current State Government has made a number of significant improvements in special education during its term in office, including the appointment of an additional 700 teachers aides special, Federation is committed to securing further much-needed improvements. These include the restoration of special education class sizes to pre-2005 levels with the maintenance of a full-time aide on every class, staffing supplementation for all SSPs with secondary age enrolments, additional staffing in ED/BD schools and classes and improved integration funding. The union is also committed to the right of students with disabilities to access SSPs and classes (as appropriate) with qualified special education teachers, trained aides and access to therapy services.

Members should act in the lead up to the state election and the State Budget which will follow. Let local MPs, the Minister, Opposition, the Greens and Democrats know about your concerns.

Hold a meeting to consider the support and resourcing needs of special education students in your workplace and, in consultation with your Organiser, develop and implement appropriate strategies to secure improvements in your school. Take action to identify potential and actual breaches of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and to prevent educational disadvantage to students. Occupational health and safety matters that should be considered include teacher workload and student violence.

To assist members, Federation has distributed a Special Education campaign kit to Federation Representatives in all schools. It includes advice and resource material, including examples of successful action. As well as accessing this material on the Federation's website (www.nswtf.org.au), members can also email their local MP, the Premier, the Minister and other politicians from the site.

Bob Lipscombe is the Senior Vice President.

For further information

February 2007 contents