Hon. Donna Faragher asks about after-hours school activities and allied health worker access following the return to school after COVID-19 restrictions. The Minister confirms principal discretion with COVID-safe guidelines.

AnsweredQoN 495Legislative Council
Asked
20 May 2020
Portfolio
Education and Training

QuestionView source ↗

CORONAVIRUS — SCHOOLS — AFTER-HOURS
ACTIVITIES
495. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the minister's
press release titled ''All WA students to return to school from next
week''.
(1) Will the
minister provide a list of general school-related activities, including those
that may be provided by third parties, that are permitted to be undertaken
after hours on school sites, provided they meet the necessary health, social
distancing and additional cleaning requirements?
(2) Can the
minister reconfirm that speech pathologists and other allied health workers are
permitted to visit schools?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Schools have been provided with advice on this
matter. The important factor is that it is a principal's responsibility
to ensure third party providers adhere to COVID-safe environments. Each
principal may decide whether he or she is prepared to take on this
responsibility. Recent health advice provided to the Department of Education
stated that principals can choose to enter into third party arrangements when
they can ensure that social distancing requirements are adhered to, there is a maximum
of 20 participants and increased cleaning regimes are implemented. A definitive
list cannot be provided as third party arrangements are at the
discretion of the principal of each school, but examples of activities include, but are not limited to, cadets, tutoring,
local sports clubs, youth groups, yoga, church groups and chess clubs.
(2) Yes. Speech pathologists and essential health
workers are permitted on site at the discretion of the principal providing that they adhere to social distancing
requirements, a maximum of 20 persons, increased cleaning measures and
minimal contact with the broader school population.

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