❓ Hon. Colin de Grussa asks about specific funding for students with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in WA schools. The Minister responds that funding is allocated based on learning needs, not specific diagnoses, and outlines existing support mechanisms.
AnsweredQoN 1335Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — FOETAL
ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER — FUNDING
1335. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the disability resource
system and resourcing for education in schools.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that there is no specific funding for students who have or are
suspected of having foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
(2) In the past year, has the minister been approached
to meet directly with FASD advocates on the topic of FASD funding for
students, and can the minister please detail any such meetings and the outcomes
committed to by the minister?
(3) When will the disability resource system next be
reviewed, and will the review consider additional funding and resources
for students who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, FASD and level
1 or level 2 autism spectrum disorder?
ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER — FUNDING
1335. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the disability resource
system and resourcing for education in schools.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that there is no specific funding for students who have or are
suspected of having foetal alcohol spectrum disorder?
(2) In the past year, has the minister been approached
to meet directly with FASD advocates on the topic of FASD funding for
students, and can the minister please detail any such meetings and the outcomes
committed to by the minister?
(3) When will the disability resource system next be
reviewed, and will the review consider additional funding and resources
for students who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, FASD and level
1 or level 2 autism spectrum disorder?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I think it is worth noting that the way that
funding is provided to schools to support students with disability is not allocated
by condition. A funding pool is allocated according to a whole different set of
criteria.
(1) The student-centred funding model provides for
funding allocations to schools based on the learning needs of individual students. Students with a disability
attract more funding under the model, with eight categories of disability funded. Although there is no
specific category of funding for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder ,
funding is provided under the categories of intellectual disability and severe
mental disorder, which are related to manifestations of FASD. Students with
additional learning needs also attract additional funding through an education
adjustment. From 2023, public schools will be provided with $31.9 million in
extra education adjustment funding over the next four years to support students
with additional learning needs who do not
have a diagnosis of disability in developing their literacy and numeracy
skills. The ''Support for students with diverse learning needs''
web-based hub contains a suite of resources to support students with diverse
learning needs, and was updated in 2018 to specifically address FASD. This
includes FASD professional learning that provides school leadership teams and
staff with activities that build educators' knowledge and understanding
of FASD, examines how FASD affects learning and provides effective classroom
strategies that support students with FASD.
(2) No.
(3) There is no
plan for the disability resource system to be reviewed. The student-centred
funding model's individual disability allocation funding rates are
adjusted for cost escalation on an annual basis.
some notice of the question. I think it is worth noting that the way that
funding is provided to schools to support students with disability is not allocated
by condition. A funding pool is allocated according to a whole different set of
criteria.
(1) The student-centred funding model provides for
funding allocations to schools based on the learning needs of individual students. Students with a disability
attract more funding under the model, with eight categories of disability funded. Although there is no
specific category of funding for foetal alcohol spectrum disorder ,
funding is provided under the categories of intellectual disability and severe
mental disorder, which are related to manifestations of FASD. Students with
additional learning needs also attract additional funding through an education
adjustment. From 2023, public schools will be provided with $31.9 million in
extra education adjustment funding over the next four years to support students
with additional learning needs who do not
have a diagnosis of disability in developing their literacy and numeracy
skills. The ''Support for students with diverse learning needs''
web-based hub contains a suite of resources to support students with diverse
learning needs, and was updated in 2018 to specifically address FASD. This
includes FASD professional learning that provides school leadership teams and
staff with activities that build educators' knowledge and understanding
of FASD, examines how FASD affects learning and provides effective classroom
strategies that support students with FASD.
(2) No.
(3) There is no
plan for the disability resource system to be reviewed. The student-centred
funding model's individual disability allocation funding rates are
adjusted for cost escalation on an annual basis.
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