Labor's re-announcement of their so-called Social and Emotional Learning policy is just a re-badge of their same old, tired, unfunded promises of years gone by.
In stark contrast, the Hodgman majority Liberal Government is getting on with the job of providing safe and supportive school communities, free from bullying, harassment and violence.
We are investing $3 million over four years to combat bullying and cyber bullying in all Tasmanian Government schools. Our schools are utilising Respectful Relationships Education resource, and recently, the Government partnered with Relationships Australia to deliver Speak Up Stay Chatty program in schools over the next four years.
We have also partnered with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to implement evidence-based strategies and approaches to anti-cyber bullying in schools.
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation has backed the Hodgman Liberal Government’s approach, noting the Government was a, “leader in cyber safety and investing in our children’s digital skills”, “is a forward thinking government which recognised early on that, in order to succeed, our children need to be safe online”, and, that the “Foundation believes Tasmania has the runs on the board as an early adopter in supporting evidence based cyber safety education to increase the digital skills of our children and reduce bullying and cyber bullying. They take this responsibility seriously.”*
The clear message to our students in our classrooms is that bullying and violence, in or outside of school, is never okay.
Since 2014, we have also re-introduced school nurses into our schools, and employed over 63 more support staff including psychologists, social workers and speech pathologists to provide more social and emotional support where needed.
Almost nine months since their third worst defeat ever, its time Labor got serious, did their homework and stopped trying to pass off old, worn out and un-funded policies as evidence it is listening to the real concerns of Tasmanians.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training