❓ Question regarding the referral process of students to mental health services by schools, specifically focusing on the role of school psychologists and data collection practices. The answer reveals a decentralised system with no central data collection.
AnsweredQoN 1470Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to school psychologists, and I ask: (a) do all school referrals of students to non-Department of Education mental health services occur only through the school’s psychologist; (b) if no to (a), who else is authorised to refer a student to these services; (c) for each of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (to date): (i) how many students were referred to these services; and (ii) how many were referred by each authorised category of staff; and (d) if yes to (a), for each of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to date: (i) how many students were referred to these services; and (ii) how many of the students in (d)(i) were referred to each category of service?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 September 2014
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
36 days
(a) No. Referrals can occur through a variety of school personnel.
(b) There is no "authorised category of staff" who can make referrals. School leadership determines who makes referrals. Schools operate and make referrals according to local need and the locally available services. Circumstances are very different for schools across the State. There are a number of personnel working in schools who are not necessarily directly employed by the Department (e.g. school nurses).
(c)(i)-(ii) No data is kept on this centrally. There is no requirement for the Department of Education to maintain central data on the referrals made. However, schools do keep data on student files that are relevant to duty of care obligations to students.
(d)(i)-(ii) Not applicable.
(b) There is no "authorised category of staff" who can make referrals. School leadership determines who makes referrals. Schools operate and make referrals according to local need and the locally available services. Circumstances are very different for schools across the State. There are a number of personnel working in schools who are not necessarily directly employed by the Department (e.g. school nurses).
(c)(i)-(ii) No data is kept on this centrally. There is no requirement for the Department of Education to maintain central data on the referrals made. However, schools do keep data on student files that are relevant to duty of care obligations to students.
(d)(i)-(ii) Not applicable.
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