❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about the potential cut of speech pathology services at Kalbarri District High School. The Minister assures that the service will continue with the return of the permanent staff member from maternity leave and denies budget cuts.
AnsweredQoN 847Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
KALBARRI SPEECH PATHOLOGY SERVICE
I refer to budget cuts to the Kalbarri Health Service and the Department of Health’s intention to all but cut the speech pathology service to Kalbarri District High School. (1) Will the minister explain why the speech pathologist has not had her contract renewed, despite a demonstrated need for the service in the Kalbarri community? (2) Why is it acceptable that students who have disabilities or who require early intervention with speech therapy miss out on crucial treatment due to budget cuts? (3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY
I refer to budget cuts to the Kalbarri Health Service and the Department of Health’s intention to all but cut the speech pathology service to Kalbarri District High School. (1) Will the minister explain why the speech pathologist has not had her contract renewed, despite a demonstrated need for the service in the Kalbarri community? (2) Why is it acceptable that students who have disabilities or who require early intervention with speech therapy miss out on crucial treatment due to budget cuts? (3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(1) Will the minister explain why the speech pathologist has not had her contract renewed, despite a demonstrated need for the service in the Kalbarri community? (2) Why is it acceptable that students who have disabilities or who require early intervention with speech therapy miss out on crucial treatment due to budget cuts? (3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(2) Why is it acceptable that students who have disabilities or who require early intervention with speech therapy miss out on crucial treatment due to budget cuts? (3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(1) Will the minister explain why the speech pathologist has not had her contract renewed, despite a demonstrated need for the service in the Kalbarri community? (2) Why is it acceptable that students who have disabilities or who require early intervention with speech therapy miss out on crucial treatment due to budget cuts? (3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(2) Why is it acceptable that students who have disabilities or who require early intervention with speech therapy miss out on crucial treatment due to budget cuts? (3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(3) Will the minister personally intervene to ensure that the speech pathology service is retained for children in the Kalbarri community? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
I thank the member for Greenough for some notice of this question because it caused me some considerable concern when I first saw it. However, I have been able to ascertain the facts and, hopefully, they will go some way towards alleviating the concerns of the member’s constituents. (1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(1) The speech pathologist, who has been servicing the Kalbarri District High School during 2006, is on a temporary contract. The contract is for the period of maternity leave for the speech pathologist who usually provides the visiting service once per school term to that school. The permanent staff member is returning to her position in early 2007. It is therefore simply a matter of the temporary contract covering expiring maternity leave. The usual person will go back in that job so that the service will continue. Kalbarri District High School usually receives one or two visits from a speech pathologist per school term, and was last visited recently on 18 October. The next visit is not due until the first school term in 2007, which will be attended to by the person returning from maternity leave. (2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(2) I am aware of the basis upon which it has been alleged that there have been budget cuts, but I assure the member that there have been no budget reductions affecting services to students who have disabilities or who require early intervention or treatment. Staffing within the WA Country Health Service mid-west’s speech pathology and audiology services has remained consistently between 10 and 11.6 full-time equivalents throughout 2005-06 and 2006-07, with the current staffing level at 11.3 FTEs. The belief that there was a budget cut, unfounded as it was, is to be found in the letter from the temporary speech pathologist, Vivienne Lobo. She is incorrect in that assertion. (3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
(3) In answer to the final point that the member raised, there is no intention whatsoever to cease speech pathology services to the Kalbarri community. The visiting service provided from Geraldton to the school will continue to be provided each school term.
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