This Government is committed to ensuring every Tasmanian student can thrive in an inclusive learning environment.
In the past two years we have done more to ensure this than Labor did in 16 years. This is an opposition that seriously lacks any credibility on education. Labor’s only plan for education is to close regional schools and repeal our successful high school extension program.
Immediately after coming to Government I established the Ministerial Taskforce and acted on their recommendations for Education for Students with Disabilities.
This includes investing an additional $12 million over four years to help school be disability ready and responsive, with $3 million being spent this financial year.
This is in addition to $1 million allocated in 2016 to implement three recommendations of the taskforce: Family Partnership Training, incentivised training for teachers and assistants and the development of a networked professional support staff model.
To help guide this work, I introduced the Inclusion Advisory Panel – Disability Focus, which had its inaugural meeting in June and a second meeting in August. The Panel is overseeing the implementation of the Ministerial Taskforce recommendations across all education sectors.
Our commitment to improving education for students with a disability has resulted in significant reforms and investment, with the overall budget for students with a disability increasing from $71.9 million in 2015 to $75.99 million this year.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Education and Training