Page 1996 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 7 June 2017
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practice. They will have access to relevant, high quality and inclusive teaching and learning resources and they will be able to connect with other school communities to share and improve practice.
The federal government’s changes to the safe schools program unacceptably weakened it. The ACT government responded by committing during the election to directly fund a new program that meets the needs of our students and school communities. Yesterday we delivered on that commitment.
Over the past few months the Education Directorate has been working with Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT to develop a new program, including a service model providing guidelines, evaluation frameworks and a communications strategy. I look forward to seeing this program being rolled out with the support of school communities and in our public schools.
I also note, for the interest of members, recent media highlighting that the Catholic system has also recognised the prevalence of sexual and gender diversity among their own young people. They are working to establish a program to support safe and inclusive schools within that system.
MS CODY: Minister, how is the government investing in initiatives to support student mental health and wellbeing?
MS BERRY: Students from many different walks of life learn alongside each other in ACT schools, and along the way any student could experience challenges that interrupt or create barriers to their education. Just as in adult life, our students face mental health challenges and need support for their general wellbeing.
I have raised in the Assembly a number of times my focus on equity in our system, particularly as the community discusses the future of education in the ACT. As the strategy forms, I hope the key part of it is how we can better enable students by addressing mental health and wellbeing.
But it is also clear that there are things we can do now. During the election, the government committed to providing 20 new school psychologists to provide students with access to professional assistance when they need it. Nationally, the percentage of students across Australia with a diagnosed mental health disorder who accessed school-based mental health support has risen over the past 15 years. In the ACT, the government is committed to providing support for these children. This is why we are funding more psychologists in our schools.
Yesterday’s budget provides nearly $2.5 million for the first five of the additional school psychologists, which will be allocated to the areas of greatest need and will respond to our growing awareness of the need for a proactive approach to mental health and student wellbeing in our schools. Over the coming year, the Education Directorate will be taking a look at how the government can better integrate school psychologists with other available mental health support for young people.
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