Media release – AEU, 23 September 2024
STUDENTS IN WAITING LIST PURGATORY AMID ALLIED HEALTH STAFFING CRISIS
Tasmanian educators have expressed outrage at the latest data showing some Tasmanian students are waiting over a year to access specialist support due to the staffing crisis in our schools.
“Budget Estimates today revealed a shocking 2,217 students in Tasmanian Government schools were waiting to see a school psychologist,” said David Genford, AEU Tasmania Branch President.
“A further 380 were waiting to see a social worker, with another 598 waiting to see a speech and language pathologist,” said Mr Genford.
“Most Tasmanian students are now waiting at least a year to get supports they desperately need. Most students are waiting 250 days just for an initial assessment with a psychologist, but another 198 days to receive an intervention,” he said.
“Minister Palmer says she is committed to ‘ensuring every Tasmanian child is known, safe, well and learning.’ We’re failing on every single measure,” he said.
“The 2024-25 State Budget does nothing to attract or retain the specialists desperately needed in Tasmania’s schools.
“The Rockliff Government has refused to extend existing incentives to recruit allied health professionals in health to our schools.”
“Failing to provide the investment needed to attract and retain allied health professionals in schools is putting kids lives at risk. Cutting budgets in the middle of a crisis is worse still. You can’t put out a fire while you’re pouring petrol on it.”
“The Rockliff Government are telling Tasmanians they’ve tried nothing–and they’re all out of ideas.”
“This Budget has done nothing to fix the staffing crisis that’s pushing students and educators to the brink. This is a shocking indictment on a Government that has failed in its duty of care to students, to educators and to families.”
Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Education & Early Years, 24 September 2024
Tasmanian students suffering on specialist waitlists
Labor stands for safe, secure, well-paid jobs, and good education helps get more Tasmanians into well-paid jobs.
In a stunning revelation from Estimates, data shows that Tasmanian students are not receiving the educational and developmental support they need.
Horrifying figures laid bare further proof that Tasmania’s education system cannot afford the Liberal minority government budget cuts.
The government admitted that:
- 2,217 students are waiting to see a school psychologist.
- 380 students are waiting for a school social worker (and 880 were referred to external services).
- 598 are waiting for a speech and language pathologist.
- The average number of days a Tasmanian student has to wait to see a school psychologist for an initial assessment is 250 days.
- To receive an intervention, the average is 448 days.
It’s no wonder the state’s educational outcomes are lagging the nation. Students requiring additional support have not been afforded the opportunity to access the support they need.
These shocking figures also illustrate that educators are not being provided the support they need.
How can we expect to improve education outcomes for students when the state government is asking an already stretched system to do more, with less?
How can Tasmania deliver the future workforce it needs, when the Liberal minority government has decided to ignore our students’ needs?
