❓ Education—Violence in schools 16. Mr Liam Staltari to the Minister for Education : I refer to the rising epidemic of violence in WA schools, with recent reports of organised fight clubs at a high scho
AnsweredQoN 16Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Education—Violence in schools
16. Mr Liam Staltari to the Minister for Education :
I refer to the
rising epidemic of violence in WA schools, with recent reports of organised
fight clubs at a high school in Perth's south and the shocking assault and
hospitalisation of an eight-year-old child at a primary school in the eastern
suburbs.
(1) When will the minister take action to stop the
surge in school violence that is taking place on the government's watch?
(2) How can the minister expect students to
achieve good educational outcomes while this government fails to address
out-of-control violence in those same schools?
16. Mr Liam Staltari to the Minister for Education :
I refer to the
rising epidemic of violence in WA schools, with recent reports of organised
fight clubs at a high school in Perth's south and the shocking assault and
hospitalisation of an eight-year-old child at a primary school in the eastern
suburbs.
(1) When will the minister take action to stop the
surge in school violence that is taking place on the government's watch?
(2) How can the minister expect students to
achieve good educational outcomes while this government fails to address
out-of-control violence in those same schools?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Carine for
his question. Can I begin by congratulating him on his election to this place
and, more importantly, also congratulate him on the birth of their first, I
think, child. Whilst we all think that this is significant work that we do in
this place, the member will, as a new parent, discover that the most important
role he will ever play is being a parent, and I congratulate you both.
Given that it is the first time
I rise as the Minister for Education, I quickly also want to acknowledge the
previous Minister for Education Minister Buti—he has moved spots. In
particular, I want to highlight under his watch the landmark agreement, the
Better and Fairer Schools Agreement that was struck with the federal
government, which is set to transform what we are able to do in this state in
regards to education, and I acknowledge him for
that. For the first time ever our schools will be fully and fairly funded
at 100% of the school resource standard. That is $1.6 billion worth of funding,
thanks also, of course, to a federal Labor government that understands the
value of education.
I can assure members that as
Minister for Education I am very keen to address the violence in our schools head
on, but let us be clear: schools are a reflection of what happens in our
community. I want to reassure not only members but the entire community out
there that our schools are a great place, and the majority of schools have
incredible environments where children can learn. So let us not diminish it by
grabbing a headline and trashing our school system.
We have a zero tolerance when it
comes to violence in schools. We also need to acknowledge that our government
has delivered the strongest measures when it comes to school violence, of
course, starting with our first Minister for Education as part of the Labor
government. I also want to acknowledge Hon Sue Ellery, of course, who served as
education minister for six years and had her valedictory speech last night. I
thank her for her contribution to education in the state, and I still value her
counsel greatly.
We know there is a lot of work
to do, but violence in schools is symptomatic of what is happening in our
community; we cannot forget that. When we talk about what our government has
done already, Hon Sue Ellery developed, with our sector partners, schools
parents and our unions Let's Take a Stand Together, a 10-point action plan, which, over time, Minister Buti, when he was Minister
for Education, strengthened even further.
Critically important to that,
our government gave the capacity to principals to take strong action against
violence, strengthening their ability to act swiftly to expel students and to
suspend students. We are very proud of the fact that we have enabled teachers
to do that. As well, of course, we are also very conscious that we need to
support those students who are displaying those disruptive behaviours. It is
one thing to expel or suspend students, but we also need to deal with the root
causes that cause students to behave in this way. Of course, one of those ways
is the alternative learning settings that we have set up—some 12—right
around the state. I note that in the recent elections, the Nationals WA
actually supported that and made a commitment around expanding our alternative
learning settings models.
The department has rolled out
significant and extensive resources and supports by way of the Connect and
Respect resources. In 2021, we made the election commitment to deliver an
additional 100 school sites, which are now in our schools. We have also, of
course, importantly, as part of the recent enterprise bargaining agreement
finalised between the State School Teachers' Union and our government,
committed to expanding on the complex behaviour coordinators, which will see
some 64 positions created in 192 schools. They will support schools and support
teachers in the important work of dealing with disruptive behaviours in our
schools.
Members, this is not a
simplistic issue. I am a little bit disappointed at the first question from the
shadow Minister for Education. He has grabbed a headline that was in the news
this week and has run with that. I acknowledge that violence in schools is a
real issue for parents. In fact, only this morning I had the opportunity to
speak with Erin and Aaron, the parents of the eight-year-old the member
referred to, and I am very comforted by the fact that they are absolutely
satisfied with the school's response and with the supports that they are
getting. Interestingly, they seem more interested in finding solutions to what
is happening in our schools and providing constructive ways in which we can
support our schools—not only for little Mason, but those parents are
also interested in the kids that are perpetrating the violence. It is such a
refreshing approach to have people meet with me and come up with solutions. I
note that the opposite side of the house do not have any. I look forward to a
contest of ideas at some point.
his question. Can I begin by congratulating him on his election to this place
and, more importantly, also congratulate him on the birth of their first, I
think, child. Whilst we all think that this is significant work that we do in
this place, the member will, as a new parent, discover that the most important
role he will ever play is being a parent, and I congratulate you both.
Given that it is the first time
I rise as the Minister for Education, I quickly also want to acknowledge the
previous Minister for Education Minister Buti—he has moved spots. In
particular, I want to highlight under his watch the landmark agreement, the
Better and Fairer Schools Agreement that was struck with the federal
government, which is set to transform what we are able to do in this state in
regards to education, and I acknowledge him for
that. For the first time ever our schools will be fully and fairly funded
at 100% of the school resource standard. That is $1.6 billion worth of funding,
thanks also, of course, to a federal Labor government that understands the
value of education.
I can assure members that as
Minister for Education I am very keen to address the violence in our schools head
on, but let us be clear: schools are a reflection of what happens in our
community. I want to reassure not only members but the entire community out
there that our schools are a great place, and the majority of schools have
incredible environments where children can learn. So let us not diminish it by
grabbing a headline and trashing our school system.
We have a zero tolerance when it
comes to violence in schools. We also need to acknowledge that our government
has delivered the strongest measures when it comes to school violence, of
course, starting with our first Minister for Education as part of the Labor
government. I also want to acknowledge Hon Sue Ellery, of course, who served as
education minister for six years and had her valedictory speech last night. I
thank her for her contribution to education in the state, and I still value her
counsel greatly.
We know there is a lot of work
to do, but violence in schools is symptomatic of what is happening in our
community; we cannot forget that. When we talk about what our government has
done already, Hon Sue Ellery developed, with our sector partners, schools
parents and our unions Let's Take a Stand Together, a 10-point action plan, which, over time, Minister Buti, when he was Minister
for Education, strengthened even further.
Critically important to that,
our government gave the capacity to principals to take strong action against
violence, strengthening their ability to act swiftly to expel students and to
suspend students. We are very proud of the fact that we have enabled teachers
to do that. As well, of course, we are also very conscious that we need to
support those students who are displaying those disruptive behaviours. It is
one thing to expel or suspend students, but we also need to deal with the root
causes that cause students to behave in this way. Of course, one of those ways
is the alternative learning settings that we have set up—some 12—right
around the state. I note that in the recent elections, the Nationals WA
actually supported that and made a commitment around expanding our alternative
learning settings models.
The department has rolled out
significant and extensive resources and supports by way of the Connect and
Respect resources. In 2021, we made the election commitment to deliver an
additional 100 school sites, which are now in our schools. We have also, of
course, importantly, as part of the recent enterprise bargaining agreement
finalised between the State School Teachers' Union and our government,
committed to expanding on the complex behaviour coordinators, which will see
some 64 positions created in 192 schools. They will support schools and support
teachers in the important work of dealing with disruptive behaviours in our
schools.
Members, this is not a
simplistic issue. I am a little bit disappointed at the first question from the
shadow Minister for Education. He has grabbed a headline that was in the news
this week and has run with that. I acknowledge that violence in schools is a
real issue for parents. In fact, only this morning I had the opportunity to
speak with Erin and Aaron, the parents of the eight-year-old the member
referred to, and I am very comforted by the fact that they are absolutely
satisfied with the school's response and with the supports that they are
getting. Interestingly, they seem more interested in finding solutions to what
is happening in our schools and providing constructive ways in which we can
support our schools—not only for little Mason, but those parents are
also interested in the kids that are perpetrating the violence. It is such a
refreshing approach to have people meet with me and come up with solutions. I
note that the opposite side of the house do not have any. I look forward to a
contest of ideas at some point.
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