A WA parliamentary question seeks data on school psychologists employed by the Department of Education and Training, including staffing levels, ratios, district allocation, and wait times for student contact. The Minister provides specific figures and context.

AnsweredQoN 39Legislative Council
Asked
16 March 2006
Portfolio
Education and Training

QuestionView source ↗

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
(1) How many school psychologists are currently employed by the Department of Education and Training to provide services to school students? (2) What was the equivalent figure in the previous five years? (3) Is there a prescribed ratio of school psychologists to students; and, if so, what is that ratio and has it been maintained over the past five years? (4) What is the specific number of school psychologists who are allocated in each of the Department of Education and Training’s district offices? (5) How long does it take for a school psychologist to make contact with a student once a need is notified? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(2) What was the equivalent figure in the previous five years? (3) Is there a prescribed ratio of school psychologists to students; and, if so, what is that ratio and has it been maintained over the past five years? (4) What is the specific number of school psychologists who are allocated in each of the Department of Education and Training’s district offices? (5) How long does it take for a school psychologist to make contact with a student once a need is notified? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(3) Is there a prescribed ratio of school psychologists to students; and, if so, what is that ratio and has it been maintained over the past five years? (4) What is the specific number of school psychologists who are allocated in each of the Department of Education and Training’s district offices? (5) How long does it take for a school psychologist to make contact with a student once a need is notified? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(4) What is the specific number of school psychologists who are allocated in each of the Department of Education and Training’s district offices? (5) How long does it take for a school psychologist to make contact with a student once a need is notified? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(5) How long does it take for a school psychologist to make contact with a student once a need is notified? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
Generally, there has been a significant increase in the number of school psychologists; in 2001 there were 229 and currently there are 262. I will respond directly. (1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(1) There are 262 school psychologists currently employed by the Department of Education and Training. (2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(2) The number of school psychologists employed by the department in the previous five years was, 225 in 2005, 242 in 2004, 247 in 2003, 249 in 2002 and 229 in 2001. (3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(3) The minimum ratio of school psychologists to students was nominally set in 1998 when the School Psychology Service was restructured to become Student Services. The ratio was set a 1 to 2 000. (4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(4) The number of school psychologists in each of the district offices in 2006 is as follows: Albany has six, Bunbury has 11, Canning has 38, Esperance has four, Fremantle-Peel has 55, Goldfields has six, Kimberley has four, Mid West has nine, Midlands has seven, Narrogin has six, West Coast has 48, Pilbara has seven, Swan has 50, Warren-Blackwood has eight and central office has three. The total is 262. (5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.
(5) Schools establish processes for determining which individual students will access support from the school psychologist and the priority order in which the support will be provided. The time it takes for a student to be seen will vary according to the level of support provided to the school and the priority the school places on the student’s needs.

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