❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the Safe Schools Coalition Australia program, its potential implementation in WA schools, and the Minister's stance on it following criticism. The Minister clarifies the program's status and school autonomy.
AnsweredQoN 199Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SAFE SCHOOL PROGRAM
199. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Education:
I also refer to recent criticism by Mr Peter Abetz, MLA, of
the Safe Schools Coalition Australia anti-bullying program.
(1) What is the minister's response to Mr Abetz's
comments?
(2) Is the
minister supportive of WA schools running the program if they choose to do so
once it is available in WA?
(3) What concerns, if any, does the minister have about the
program?
(4) How many WA schools have indicated so far that they
intend to run the program?
199. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Education:
I also refer to recent criticism by Mr Peter Abetz, MLA, of
the Safe Schools Coalition Australia anti-bullying program.
(1) What is the minister's response to Mr Abetz's
comments?
(2) Is the
minister supportive of WA schools running the program if they choose to do so
once it is available in WA?
(3) What concerns, if any, does the minister have about the
program?
(4) How many WA schools have indicated so far that they
intend to run the program?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Schools are
required to implement programs that support all students to be safe and to
acquire the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe from harm, including
bullying and discrimination. In Western Australia, as in all states, it will be
up to individual schools to determine whether they wish to participate in the
Safe Schools Coalition Australia program.
� To emphasise the point that I made in an
earlier question, it has neither been endorsed nor mandated by SSCA in Western
Australia. It is up to individual schools, but it certainly will be rolled out
in schools across Western Australia.
(2) Programs or
resources developed by external organisations such as the Safe Schools
Coalition Australia program are not endorsed or mandated by the department.
Organisations may contact schools directly with programs or resources they have
developed. Schools have the flexibility to choose resources that suit the
context of their teaching and learning programs.
� To provide some clarity behind that, a lot of
programs are rolled out across the nation. The same as every program in Western
Australia, schools have the authority to access those programs. It needs to be
emphasised that this was a federally funded program. As I said, SCCA has
neither endorsed nor mandated the program.
(3) The
program has not been implemented in Western Australia.
(4) The
Department of Education has not asked schools if they wish to participate.
question.
(1) Schools are
required to implement programs that support all students to be safe and to
acquire the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe from harm, including
bullying and discrimination. In Western Australia, as in all states, it will be
up to individual schools to determine whether they wish to participate in the
Safe Schools Coalition Australia program.
� To emphasise the point that I made in an
earlier question, it has neither been endorsed nor mandated by SSCA in Western
Australia. It is up to individual schools, but it certainly will be rolled out
in schools across Western Australia.
(2) Programs or
resources developed by external organisations such as the Safe Schools
Coalition Australia program are not endorsed or mandated by the department.
Organisations may contact schools directly with programs or resources they have
developed. Schools have the flexibility to choose resources that suit the
context of their teaching and learning programs.
� To provide some clarity behind that, a lot of
programs are rolled out across the nation. The same as every program in Western
Australia, schools have the authority to access those programs. It needs to be
emphasised that this was a federally funded program. As I said, SCCA has
neither endorsed nor mandated the program.
(3) The
program has not been implemented in Western Australia.
(4) The
Department of Education has not asked schools if they wish to participate.
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