❓ Mr. Staltari asks about school psychologist wait times and access in WA public schools. The Department of Education states they don't centrally track wait times and access data, but highlights increased psychologist staffing.
AnsweredQoN 98Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Department of Education monitor the wait times for students at WA public schools to access a school psychologist following their opting to see one or referral to one? (2) If yes to (1), what was the average wait time for a student to see a school psychologist in WA public schools in the school year 2024? (3) Please provide the breakdown of the answer to (2) by Education Region? (4) Please provide an equivalent answer for the answers to (2) and (3) for the school years 2023, 2022 and 2021? (5) How many WA public school students were referred to a school psychologist but were unable to access a school psychology session due to staffing constraints in the 2024 school year? (6) Please provide a breakdown of the answer to (5) by Education Region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 June 2025
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
11 days
School psychologists play an important role in creating a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment. They work closely with students, teachers and families to support student wellbeing, keep students engaged in their learning, and build a positive school culture.
Each school’s needs are unique, which is why principals and school psychologists work together to develop a school psychology service plan that is responsive to the challenges and priorities of their school community.
Recognising the importance of mental health and wellbeing in education, in 2021, the State Government committed $42.2 million for an additional 100 FTE in WA schools over 4 years to provide support for students and promote positive mental health.
As of 22 May 2025, this commitment has been met – public schools are supported with an average of 485.6FTE school psychologists. This represents and increase of 108.9FTE since the initiative commenced. The school psychology workforce has reached a headcount of 655, the highest it has even been recorded in the Department of Education. The current ratio of registered schools psychologists to students in WA public schools is 1:639.
The Department of Education advises:
1) No
(2-4) Not applicable
5) School psychology services are managed at the local level and therefore this information is not kept centrally.
6) Not applicable
Each school’s needs are unique, which is why principals and school psychologists work together to develop a school psychology service plan that is responsive to the challenges and priorities of their school community.
Recognising the importance of mental health and wellbeing in education, in 2021, the State Government committed $42.2 million for an additional 100 FTE in WA schools over 4 years to provide support for students and promote positive mental health.
As of 22 May 2025, this commitment has been met – public schools are supported with an average of 485.6FTE school psychologists. This represents and increase of 108.9FTE since the initiative commenced. The school psychology workforce has reached a headcount of 655, the highest it has even been recorded in the Department of Education. The current ratio of registered schools psychologists to students in WA public schools is 1:639.
The Department of Education advises:
1) No
(2-4) Not applicable
5) School psychology services are managed at the local level and therefore this information is not kept centrally.
6) Not applicable
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