Page 2059 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2022

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(10) What is the waiting time for a student to see a school psychologist, or is this information not kept, and is there a waiting list.

(11) How many times, on average, will a school counsellor see a student/child.

(12) What are the five most common reasons for students to see a school psychologist.

(13) Can the Minister provide a breakdown of psychologists and their qualifications.

(14) Has there been a review of the school psychologist program over the last six years; if so, can the Minister provide details of any review.

(15) What is the total cost of the school psychologist program and can the Minister provide the cost over the last five years.

(16) Are there plans to review, change or expand the school psychologist program.

(17) How much directorate staff are employed to work on the school psychologist program and what are their roles and salaries.

Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) There are 90 public schools in the ACT.

(2) The Education Directorate employees fully registered psychologists in the school psychology service. In 2022, ACT public schools are supported by a total of 83.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) psychologists.

64.0 FTE school psychologists (including two COVID-19 Response fund temporary positions)

14.0 FTE senior psychologists

1.0 FTE Director of School Psychology, Clinical Practice

1.0 FTE Senior Director of Clinical Practice

3.0 FTE psychologists in the Child Development Service, Community Services Directorate

Approximately 41.3% work full time and 58.7% work part time. This includes one staff member on a part time temporary contract. There are no staff on casual employment arrangements.

(3) All ACT public school students have access to a school psychologist. The amount of time each school is allocated a school psychologist is determined through data modelling, completed every three years. All attempts are made to ensure schools have a school psychologist placed in their school for their allocated time and changes in staff are minimised during a three-year rotation.

The average time a school psychologist is allocated to an ACT school is 2-3 days per week, with a range of 1 – 5 days per week determined according to data modelling.

(4) All ACT public school students have access to a school psychologist. Senior psychologists work with the schools to facilitate services from the centralised psychology teams ensuring all schools have access to a psychology service.


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