❓ Details the formula used to allocate school nurse FTE in WA government schools, differentiating between metropolitan and country areas, and confirms the formula won't change under the new funding model. Specific school allocations are provided in a tabled paper.
AnsweredQoN 1469Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to school nurses, and I ask: (a) what was the formula for calculating a school’s allocation of school nursing staff hours for this year; (b) will this formula change under the new funding model and, if so, what will be the new formula; and (c) for each Western Australian Government school for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (to date), how many hours of school nurse staff time was allocated?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 September 2014
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
As at 19 August 2014
(a)
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SERVICES (CAHS)
Each year, metropolitan school health nurse Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is allocated based on an agreed Department of Education and Department of Health formula for each Primary, Secondary and Education Support sector.
Metropolitan Secondary Schools
For the metropolitan secondary school sector, nursing FTE is allocated to each government school, based on a formula which accounts for:
1.
Total student number as at the August 2013 census date.
2.
Number of Education Support and Intensive English Language Students as at August 2013 census date (higher weighting applied).
3.
Projected student numbers.
4.
Opening, closure and merging of schools.
5.
Relative disadvantage of school as determined by Department of Education derived "Socio-Economic Index for Schools" (SEI) score.
The FTE per secondary school is capped at 1.0 FTE. Where the formula identifies FTE above 1.0, the additional FTE is allocated to schools that have been identified as requiring additional support.
Metropolitan Primary Schools
Metropolitan Primary school health nurse services are provided by teams. Nursing FTE is allocated by region, rather than to individual primary schools.
Allocation of nursing FTE to primary schools is based on the above formula as applied to all government and non-government primary schools within the region.
Throughout the year, allocations are changed as necessary to address newly identified demand.
Metropolitan Education Support Schools
Metropolitan Education Support School Sector nursing FTE is allocated on the basis of student number and acuity (for students identified as high acuity, higher weighting is applied).
WA COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICE (WACHS)
Prior to the start of each school year each WACHS region considers:
1.
The indicative number of school aged children for the new year.
2.
The number and location of schools in each region.
3.
The geographical distance between schools.
4.
Opening, closure and merging of schools.
5.
School/student need and levels of disadvantage.
6.
Primary, Secondary and Education Support School requirements.
7.
Indicative screening and immunisation requirements.
The school health nurse FTE is then allocated to schools / clusters of schools.
Throughout the year, allocations are changed as necessary to address newly identified demand.
(b) The formula used does not take the Education funding model into consideration and will not change under the new funding model.
(c) [See tabled paper no]
(a)
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SERVICES (CAHS)
Each year, metropolitan school health nurse Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is allocated based on an agreed Department of Education and Department of Health formula for each Primary, Secondary and Education Support sector.
Metropolitan Secondary Schools
For the metropolitan secondary school sector, nursing FTE is allocated to each government school, based on a formula which accounts for:
1.
Total student number as at the August 2013 census date.
2.
Number of Education Support and Intensive English Language Students as at August 2013 census date (higher weighting applied).
3.
Projected student numbers.
4.
Opening, closure and merging of schools.
5.
Relative disadvantage of school as determined by Department of Education derived "Socio-Economic Index for Schools" (SEI) score.
The FTE per secondary school is capped at 1.0 FTE. Where the formula identifies FTE above 1.0, the additional FTE is allocated to schools that have been identified as requiring additional support.
Metropolitan Primary Schools
Metropolitan Primary school health nurse services are provided by teams. Nursing FTE is allocated by region, rather than to individual primary schools.
Allocation of nursing FTE to primary schools is based on the above formula as applied to all government and non-government primary schools within the region.
Throughout the year, allocations are changed as necessary to address newly identified demand.
Metropolitan Education Support Schools
Metropolitan Education Support School Sector nursing FTE is allocated on the basis of student number and acuity (for students identified as high acuity, higher weighting is applied).
WA COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICE (WACHS)
Prior to the start of each school year each WACHS region considers:
1.
The indicative number of school aged children for the new year.
2.
The number and location of schools in each region.
3.
The geographical distance between schools.
4.
Opening, closure and merging of schools.
5.
School/student need and levels of disadvantage.
6.
Primary, Secondary and Education Support School requirements.
7.
Indicative screening and immunisation requirements.
The school health nurse FTE is then allocated to schools / clusters of schools.
Throughout the year, allocations are changed as necessary to address newly identified demand.
(b) The formula used does not take the Education funding model into consideration and will not change under the new funding model.
(c) [See tabled paper no]
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