Another post-poll Bartlett backflip

The Premier has performed another post-poll backflip and finally listened to the concerns of parents, teachers and students about the cutting of the very successful “A Team” alternative education support program in the North of the State.

It cannot be forgotten that the Premier was prepared to allow the program to be axed – at a time when there were 20 children on a waiting list to access it – until, of course, the Government’s appalling poll result.

This program has successfully helped school refusers be confident enough to get back into schooling, helped children with Aspergers who suffer anxiety and stress in the noisy environments of schools start to learn again, and helped teachers and schools learn how to better cater for children with Aspergers in their school.

For some time parents, students and teachers, as well as the Tasmanian Liberals, lobbied the State Government to reverse its decision to axe the program, particularly after the Education Department investigated, funded and ran the pilot program, which has been found to be very popular and successful.

Parents of children with autism then had to rally on Mr Bartlett’s doorstep to try to get him to understand the importance of a program like the A-Team to them and their children’s chance to get an education.

The continuation of the program in its current form for 6 months, and an evaluation of the program to determine how best the model should progress thereafter, is a welcome start.

If it takes a bad poll to get such a result, then so be it.

Children with Aspergers, and other behavioural issues, are entitled to every opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Consideration should also be given to expanding the A Team program statewide, as there will always be a need for the provision of support for, and the retraining of, teachers and teacher aides.
Sue Napier MP Shadow Minister for Education