❓ This WA parliamentary question seeks to understand the ratio of school psychologists to students in WA public schools for 2012 and 2014, broken down by school type. The answer provides detailed FTE and ratio data, while also noting factors influencing these figures.
AnsweredQoN 2335Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
What was the ratio of appointed school psychologist to students in both primary and secondary schools in 2012 and 2014?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 March 2015
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
29 days
In 2012 and 2014, the School Psychology Service Allocative Mechanism was used to allocate FTE to each public school in Western Australia on the basis of student numbers and assessed student need. Schools appoint school psychologists to the level of the FTE allocated, although in some instances schools opt to appoint additional FTE using their own funds. The aggregated figures, which include both allocated and school-funded FTE, are as follows:
2012
Type of School
Student Numbers
FTE
Ratio of School Psychologists to Students
Secondary Schools and District High Schools
87,234
90.9
1:960
Primary and Pre-Primary Schools
168,389
151.04
1:1,115
Educational Support and Remote Community Schools
6,557
11.36
1:577
2014
Type of School
Student Numbers
FTE
Ratio of School Psychologists to Students
Secondary Schools and District High Schools
94,330
95.64
1:986
Primary and Pre-Primary Schools
182,183
170.84
1:1,066
Educational Support and Remote Community Schools
5,001
9.86
1:507
The above tables do not include school psychologists who are involved in the following activities:
· 6.5 FTE to meet the supervision requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority for beginning school psychologists.
· 1.0 FTE bought by the School of Special Educational Needs: Sensory.
· 3.4 FTE to provide induction and system support for school psychologists, particularly in rural and remote areas.
· 2.5 FTE to service non-government schools in the Kimberley Education Region, funded by the Catholic Education Office.
· 1 FTE is funded by the Mental Health Commission for cross-agency work in the area of suicide prevention.
It is noted that from 2009 to 2012 there was an increase in funding of 60 school psychologist FTE.
2012
Type of School
Student Numbers
FTE
Ratio of School Psychologists to Students
Secondary Schools and District High Schools
87,234
90.9
1:960
Primary and Pre-Primary Schools
168,389
151.04
1:1,115
Educational Support and Remote Community Schools
6,557
11.36
1:577
2014
Type of School
Student Numbers
FTE
Ratio of School Psychologists to Students
Secondary Schools and District High Schools
94,330
95.64
1:986
Primary and Pre-Primary Schools
182,183
170.84
1:1,066
Educational Support and Remote Community Schools
5,001
9.86
1:507
The above tables do not include school psychologists who are involved in the following activities:
· 6.5 FTE to meet the supervision requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority for beginning school psychologists.
· 1.0 FTE bought by the School of Special Educational Needs: Sensory.
· 3.4 FTE to provide induction and system support for school psychologists, particularly in rural and remote areas.
· 2.5 FTE to service non-government schools in the Kimberley Education Region, funded by the Catholic Education Office.
· 1 FTE is funded by the Mental Health Commission for cross-agency work in the area of suicide prevention.
It is noted that from 2009 to 2012 there was an increase in funding of 60 school psychologist FTE.
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