❓ Hon Peter Collier asks the Minister for Education about problems surrounding the Balga Works program at Balga Senior High School. The Minister acknowledges awareness of issues, stating the program, aimed at high-risk students, involved multiple agencies but was abandoned due to unspecified problems.
AnsweredQoN 1127Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BALGA WORKS PROGRAM
(1) Will the minister confirm whether she is aware of the problem surrounding the Balga Works program, operating through the Balga Senior High School? (2) If yes to (1), what is the minister’s understanding of these problems? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
(1) Will the minister confirm whether she is aware of the problem surrounding the Balga Works program, operating through the Balga Senior High School? (2) If yes to (1), what is the minister’s understanding of these problems? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
(2) If yes to (1), what is the minister’s understanding of these problems? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
(1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
(2) If yes to (1), what is the minister’s understanding of these problems? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
(1)-(2) Yes, I am aware in very general terms of these problems. My understanding is that an arrangement was made between the Balga Senior High School and the principal, Merv Hammond, some time ago - I do not know exactly when. It was a joint project with the police department, and it may have involved the Department for Community Development. It was targeted at high-risk students. A company involved in the arrangement was providing high-level support for those students. It seems to me that somewhere in the arrangement something has not gone as it should have and, I understand, that project has been abandoned. I think Merv Hammond has left the education system. I know that the department, at the district office level, has worked to resolve the issues surrounding this particular case involving the Balga Works program.
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