❓ Hon Adele Farina asks about procedures for recording and reporting instances of homeless children being turned away from schools during enrolment. The Minister responds that existing policies address this and reporting mechanisms are in place for child protection concerns, but declines to issue a new directive compelling disclosure of sensitive information.
AnsweredQoN 1921Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to school record procedures, and I ask: (a) what procedures are in place for schools to record information about children who attend a school to enrol but are turned away because they are homeless and do not have a permanent residential address, and to report this information to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support, and the Director General of Education; and (b) will the Minister issue a directive to schools to collect this information and refer it to the Director General of the Department of Education and the Department for Child Protection and Family Support?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2014
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
35 days
(a)The Department of Education's
Enrolment
policy and procedures allow for a range of locations to be considered as a usual place of residence in enrolment applications. This takes into account homelessness, temporary refuge accommodation, caravan accommodation, and recent arrival to the State. Schools are required to keep Applications for Enrolment as well as Enrolment Forms on record. Enrolment information is recorded on the Student Information Management System.
The Department expects principals to adhere to the policy and would certainly take seriously any incident or allegation that a student was denied enrolment on the grounds of homelessness.
Where a child protection concern is identified by any school staff member, a report is submitted to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) through the principal. The Department is notified of all reports made to CPFS through the Department's Online Incident Notification database.
(b) No. While the
Enrolment
policy stipulates the particulars to be recorded upon application for enrolment, the parent/caregiver is not compelled to offer up personal or sensitive information relative to their living arrangements, if the information is not voluntarily communicated (this excludes relevant Family Court Order/s and/or parenting plans).
Enrolment
policy and procedures allow for a range of locations to be considered as a usual place of residence in enrolment applications. This takes into account homelessness, temporary refuge accommodation, caravan accommodation, and recent arrival to the State. Schools are required to keep Applications for Enrolment as well as Enrolment Forms on record. Enrolment information is recorded on the Student Information Management System.
The Department expects principals to adhere to the policy and would certainly take seriously any incident or allegation that a student was denied enrolment on the grounds of homelessness.
Where a child protection concern is identified by any school staff member, a report is submitted to the Department for Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) through the principal. The Department is notified of all reports made to CPFS through the Department's Online Incident Notification database.
(b) No. While the
Enrolment
policy stipulates the particulars to be recorded upon application for enrolment, the parent/caregiver is not compelled to offer up personal or sensitive information relative to their living arrangements, if the information is not voluntarily communicated (this excludes relevant Family Court Order/s and/or parenting plans).
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