❓ Mr. Kirkup questions the limited scope of COVID-19 testing for teachers, specifically regarding the 'COVID-19 detect Snapshot program'. The Minister acknowledges the suggestion to include teachers and is exploring its feasibility.
AnsweredQoN 395Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
SCHOOLS — TESTING
395. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
Can the minister confirm that only
teachers from 80 schools are included in the COVID-19 detect program and that other teachers who are not part of
those 80 schools cannot access immediate asymptomatic testing via the COVID-19 detect Snapshot program that was
announced yesterday; and, if not, why not?
SCHOOLS — TESTING
395. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Health:
Can the minister confirm that only
teachers from 80 schools are included in the COVID-19 detect program and that other teachers who are not part of
those 80 schools cannot access immediate asymptomatic testing via the COVID-19 detect Snapshot program that was
announced yesterday; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Under the detect education
program, we are undertaking a research study that is being run by the Telethon
Kids Institute. This study is looking into the physical and psychosocial
aspects of COVID-19. That includes 80 schools across the sector, representing
different aspects of the education sector—40 active and 40 controlled.
As a result of that, we will be able to draw out a whole range of scientific
conclusions, and that will assist our evidence base.
What has been put to me over the
last 24 hours is that we could include teachers as part of the COVID Snapshot program. We are having a look at that because I think
it is a pretty good idea. COVID Snapshot is our nation-leading asymptomatic testing regime of particular population cohorts. Those cohorts
include healthcare workers, including aged-care workers, disability workers and
those working in any health field; police officers; hospitality workers; retail
workers; and meatworkers.
As the member will be aware, we are
trying to get the detect education program running, but we have bumped into
the usual hurdles—that is, the ethics of medical procedures involving
children. That will continue, but it has been suggested that we could also roll in teachers as part of the COVID
Snapshot program. I have asked the director general and his team to look
at that. I think it will be possible and we will make announcements in the next
24 hours or so.
Under the detect education
program, we are undertaking a research study that is being run by the Telethon
Kids Institute. This study is looking into the physical and psychosocial
aspects of COVID-19. That includes 80 schools across the sector, representing
different aspects of the education sector—40 active and 40 controlled.
As a result of that, we will be able to draw out a whole range of scientific
conclusions, and that will assist our evidence base.
What has been put to me over the
last 24 hours is that we could include teachers as part of the COVID Snapshot program. We are having a look at that because I think
it is a pretty good idea. COVID Snapshot is our nation-leading asymptomatic testing regime of particular population cohorts. Those cohorts
include healthcare workers, including aged-care workers, disability workers and
those working in any health field; police officers; hospitality workers; retail
workers; and meatworkers.
As the member will be aware, we are
trying to get the detect education program running, but we have bumped into
the usual hurdles—that is, the ethics of medical procedures involving
children. That will continue, but it has been suggested that we could also roll in teachers as part of the COVID
Snapshot program. I have asked the director general and his team to look
at that. I think it will be possible and we will make announcements in the next
24 hours or so.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.