❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Education about making suicide and self-harm prevention guidelines mandatory in all WA schools following a student suicide. The Minister explains the current policy and limitations of mandating guidelines for independent schools.
AnsweredQoN 204Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS — SUICIDE
AND SELF-HARM PREVENTION GUIDELINES
204. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I
refer to the School response and planning guidelines for students with
suicidal behaviour and non-suicidal self-injury . In light of yet
another tragic suicide of a south west student, will the new Minister for
Education consider making these guidelines mandatory across public and
independent schools in WA; and, if not, why not?
AND SELF-HARM PREVENTION GUIDELINES
204. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I
refer to the School response and planning guidelines for students with
suicidal behaviour and non-suicidal self-injury . In light of yet
another tragic suicide of a south west student, will the new Minister for
Education consider making these guidelines mandatory across public and
independent schools in WA; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Of course, suicide is a tragedy for
anyone, particularly a young person, so I will try to speak about this matter
in a sensitive manner and not refer to any particular incident that may have
happened. In regard to those guidelines the member referred to and independent
and Catholic schools, I do not have authority to mandate it in any case. I think the member would understand that as the
opposition education minister. We are the regulator of those schools . In
regard to public schools, as the member knows, those guidelines are inserted
into the policy. But in regard to the guidelines, it is not one size fits all.
We allow individual schools to determine how they should respond. The schools
ask the parents. The schools speak to the students who might be in danger. That
is what should happen. I am sure the member understands that there is a need to
be sensitive and flexible in this area. We do not mandate one broad policy to fit everyone. We have a policy,
but the mandatory guidelines are inserted into the policy to be considered
by every school in consultation with allied professionals—experts in
the area—and the families. That is the policy at the moment. Obviously,
we are always looking at and reviewing policies in this area, and that will
continue.
anyone, particularly a young person, so I will try to speak about this matter
in a sensitive manner and not refer to any particular incident that may have
happened. In regard to those guidelines the member referred to and independent
and Catholic schools, I do not have authority to mandate it in any case. I think the member would understand that as the
opposition education minister. We are the regulator of those schools . In
regard to public schools, as the member knows, those guidelines are inserted
into the policy. But in regard to the guidelines, it is not one size fits all.
We allow individual schools to determine how they should respond. The schools
ask the parents. The schools speak to the students who might be in danger. That
is what should happen. I am sure the member understands that there is a need to
be sensitive and flexible in this area. We do not mandate one broad policy to fit everyone. We have a policy,
but the mandatory guidelines are inserted into the policy to be considered
by every school in consultation with allied professionals—experts in
the area—and the families. That is the policy at the moment. Obviously,
we are always looking at and reviewing policies in this area, and that will
continue.
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