Greens’ Campaign Gives Certainty to Autistic Kids
Kim Booth MP
Greens Member for Bass
Tuesday May 29 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the commitment by Greens Education Minister, Nick McKim MP, that the Autism education initiative, the A-Team, would continue on his watch.
Greens Member for Bass, Kim Booth MP, said that Minister McKim gave certainty to school communities over the popular and effective program, which is now called STARS.
“Minister McKim today gave a rolled-gold guarantee that the A-Team will continue and that is most welcome,” said Mr Booth.
“The A-Team, or STARS program as it’s now called, has proven itself and parents, students and school communities, who have campaigned tirelessly for it to continue, can now breathe easy.”
“With incidences of autism increasing, it is essential we maintain such a valuable program, which is why the Greens and school communities have campaigned so long and so hard to preserve it.”
“What’s crucial is that the experiences and input of parents and students drives the system, which is what has happened with STARS.”
“The whole Tasmanian community benefits when students achieve good educational outcomes, and the A-Team/STARS program truly has been one of those success stories.”
“Regrettably, there had been false rumours that the program would be axed. Now it’s clear there was no such intention.”
“I was privileged to work with the A-Team community in fighting to save the program, prior to the 2010 State election, and I’m pleased to say that, as a result of Mr McKim being Education Minister, it is now firm Education policy.”
“This delivers on an election commitment the Greens took to the 2010 State Election,” said Mr Booth.
Kim Booth MP Greens Member for Bass
