The Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby (TDERL) today welcomes the announcement that the Tasmanian eSchool staffing levels will not be cut in 2016 and will stay at 2015 levels. We also welcome further consultation in 2016 to ensure that the staffing model used for the Tasmanian eSchool appropriately resources the fantastic support provided to students with disability.
We thank the Education Minister for taking the time to talk to the TDERL and parents of eSchool students about the impact any staffing cuts would have had on the innovative programs offered to eSchool students and to work positively with us to ensure that the staffing formula applied to the eSchool truly reflected its student population.
We hope that the new formula developed for the eSchool is the beginning of a shift in thinking about how students with disability can be funded more appropriately. This process has also shown the Governments willingness to move beyond words and into real action. We hope to continue to work with the Minister to ensure that the systemic reform desperately needed for students with disability in Tasmanian schools is delivered as quickly and appropriately as possible. Today’s decision gives us hope that with continued collaboration we can move the Tasmanian school system to one that appropriately resources the needs of students with disability, allowing them to access the quality education they deserve.
Kristen Desmond, founder of the Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby said
“Inclusion is more than giving students access to an education it is ensuring that students with disability are given the appropriate supports allowing them to achieve great educational outcomes, it cannot be forced, the Tasmanian eSchool provides great support to students with disability when all other mainstream schools have failed and we are very proud to have worked with parents and the Minister to get such a positive outcome”
“Students with disability enrolled in the Tasmanian eSchool often have very complex needs and mainstream schooling has failed to support them. This new staffing formula is starting to recognise this. Both the TDERL and parents look forward being active participants in any 2016 eSchool consultation.”
“The TDERL hopes this is the beginning of real systemic change for students with disability in Tasmanian schools. We believe that today’s eSchool decision highlights what great outcomes can be achieved when the Government, Education Department and Parents work together”.
Kristen Desmond, founder of the Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby
