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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1069 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Every effort has been made to enrol SWOW students in programs suited to their particular needs. Of the 34 students enrolled at SWOW at the beginning of the 1997 school year, 22 enrolled at Dickson College. Of the remaining 12 students, six enrolled at Narrabundah College, three enrolled at the CIT, one enrolled in distance education, one remains undecided and one mature age student has decided not to continue her studies.

Mr Speaker, the Government will continue to closely monitor the progress of former SWOW students and the alternative education program at Dickson College. Throughout the review process and the relocation of SWOW, the Government has honoured its commitment to consult and involve the community. We have established mechanisms to enable the SWOW community to contribute to the refocused program at Dickson. We are confident, Mr Speaker, that a productive relationship will be developed between Dickson College and the community at the alternative education facility.

I now address some Government concerns. Mr Speaker, the decision to relocate SWOW was not made lightly. The Government considered all the issues before deciding to relocate SWOW. The Government was aware that reviews of SWOW had been undertaken in the past, some of which highlighted community support for SWOW. But, Mr Speaker, serious concern was expressed about the ability of the school to cater for the diverse needs of students enrolled there in 1996. The Government was increasingly concerned that SWOW students were not being provided with adequate education programs.

Over the years, Mr Speaker, since its establishment in the mid-1970s, the SWOW curriculum was directed at meeting the education requirements of academically able Years 11 and 12 students. No formal provision was made for those students in Years 8, 9 and 10, and most importantly there was no evidence that this was likely to occur in the future. It became obvious, too, Mr Speaker, that student assessment and reporting processes were inadequate. Resource management strategies also needed considerable improvement. As a result of these concerns, the Government conducted a further review of SWOW midway through last year. The review concluded that the best way to meet the needs of the students was to link SWOW to another school or college.

Mr Speaker, when an interim injunction not to relocate SWOW was issued by the Supreme Court on 15 January 1997, the Government did not appeal. SWOW reopened at Reid at the beginning of the 1997 school year. The decision to relocate was further strengthened by the overwhelming evidence presented to the court of the difficulties being experienced at SWOW. The Supreme Court agreed that an alternative education program could be established at Dickson College, and many of the SWOW students enrolled at this facility when it opened. Mr Speaker, when the interim injunction was discharged, SWOW officially relocated to Dickson College on 14 April this year.

I want to make it very clear, Mr Speaker, that the Government had no choice but to respond to the SWOW problems. These problems were seen to be significant, and they needed firm and speedy attention. They included the lack of a specific education program for high school students, the absence of accountability mechanisms, and the need for greater assistance for students with special needs. The Government believed, and still believes, Mr Speaker, that the remedy lies in a new start to meet the needs of students in 1997, rather than a continuation of the 1970s approach. This new start is what we are

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