❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question scrutinizes the government's involvement in a Commonwealth-led truancy trial in the Cannington region, probing the rationale, resources, and potential impact of the initiative. The response provides some information but deflects on key issues.
AnsweredQoN 185Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is it true that the Western Australian Government was consulted by the Commonwealth Government regarding the selection of the trial areas and that the West Australian Government advocated the Cannington region?
(2) On what basis was the Cannington School zone selected for the trial?
(3) What is the attendance rate for the Cannington area and how does it compare to the State average?
(4) Have the schools which are to be part of the School Requirements Bill truancy trial been determined yet?
(5) If yes to (4), which schools are they?
(6) When will the school attendance trial commence?
(7) Did the Western Australian Government specifically request that the Commonwealth Government roll-out these trials within Western Australia and put in place legislation to support them, or did the Western Australian Government respond to a request from the Western Australian Government that they support a trial within the State initiated by the Commonwealth?
(8) Does the Minister believe that existing State legislation addressing the issue of truancy is inadequate?
(9) Does the Minister believe that the State lacks the powers it needs to address the issue of truancy without Commonwealth intervention?
(10) Does the Minister believe that she does not have sufficient resources to be able to implement existing State legislation effectively?
(11) If yes to (10), is the Minister aware of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to the Senate Inquiry into the Schooling Requirements Bill that indicated that it is only providing the legislative and administrative framework to implement the truancy trial, and it considers that it is the responsibility of the State Government to provide the programs and services to support families adversely affected by these provisions?
(12) What support services and programs are currently available to all parents in Western Australia who are seeking assistance and support with children at risk of truancy?
(13) In respect of the answer to (12) -
(a) are these preventative programs and/or crisis support programs;
(b) how many children and families are assisted;
(c) what is the level of unmet need; and
(d) are there specific programs and services available within the Cannington region?
(14) What additional support is the Department providing to those schools directly affected by these trials?
(15) In respect of the answer to (14) -
(a) what additional resources are available;
(b) how many additional staff are available; and
(c) how many of these staff are based in, or regularly attending these schools?
(16) Given the Cannington area is the trial area for both the income quarantining trial and the School Requirements Bill truancy trial, how will the Minister differentiate between the impacts of each trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the school attendance trial in achieving the agreed outcomes?
(17) What specific data is the Minister compiling in respect of (16)?
(18) How much funding has been committed by the Minister to an information campaign regarding the school attendance trial and its possible impact, so all potentially affected parents are aware of and fully comprehend their responsibilities?
(19) Have school principals, teachers and the State Schoolteachers Union been consulted about the additional responsibilities this trial will place on teachers such as contacting parents of truant children, providing support and advice to them, and reporting non-compliance?
(20) What data does the Minister have of the relative contribution to truancy rates of family income source and level?
(21) In the view of the Minister does this data provide a basis for specifically targeting truancy initiatives to only those families on income support?
(22) How will the trial interact with existing State truancy policy?
(23) Is the Department responsible for determining the guidelines as to what is considered satisfactory or unsatisfactory levels of attendance?
(24) If yes to (23) -
(a) what are these guidelines; and
(b) when will they be publicly available?
(2) On what basis was the Cannington School zone selected for the trial?
(3) What is the attendance rate for the Cannington area and how does it compare to the State average?
(4) Have the schools which are to be part of the School Requirements Bill truancy trial been determined yet?
(5) If yes to (4), which schools are they?
(6) When will the school attendance trial commence?
(7) Did the Western Australian Government specifically request that the Commonwealth Government roll-out these trials within Western Australia and put in place legislation to support them, or did the Western Australian Government respond to a request from the Western Australian Government that they support a trial within the State initiated by the Commonwealth?
(8) Does the Minister believe that existing State legislation addressing the issue of truancy is inadequate?
(9) Does the Minister believe that the State lacks the powers it needs to address the issue of truancy without Commonwealth intervention?
(10) Does the Minister believe that she does not have sufficient resources to be able to implement existing State legislation effectively?
(11) If yes to (10), is the Minister aware of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to the Senate Inquiry into the Schooling Requirements Bill that indicated that it is only providing the legislative and administrative framework to implement the truancy trial, and it considers that it is the responsibility of the State Government to provide the programs and services to support families adversely affected by these provisions?
(12) What support services and programs are currently available to all parents in Western Australia who are seeking assistance and support with children at risk of truancy?
(13) In respect of the answer to (12) -
(a) are these preventative programs and/or crisis support programs;
(b) how many children and families are assisted;
(c) what is the level of unmet need; and
(d) are there specific programs and services available within the Cannington region?
(14) What additional support is the Department providing to those schools directly affected by these trials?
(15) In respect of the answer to (14) -
(a) what additional resources are available;
(b) how many additional staff are available; and
(c) how many of these staff are based in, or regularly attending these schools?
(16) Given the Cannington area is the trial area for both the income quarantining trial and the School Requirements Bill truancy trial, how will the Minister differentiate between the impacts of each trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the school attendance trial in achieving the agreed outcomes?
(17) What specific data is the Minister compiling in respect of (16)?
(18) How much funding has been committed by the Minister to an information campaign regarding the school attendance trial and its possible impact, so all potentially affected parents are aware of and fully comprehend their responsibilities?
(19) Have school principals, teachers and the State Schoolteachers Union been consulted about the additional responsibilities this trial will place on teachers such as contacting parents of truant children, providing support and advice to them, and reporting non-compliance?
(20) What data does the Minister have of the relative contribution to truancy rates of family income source and level?
(21) In the view of the Minister does this data provide a basis for specifically targeting truancy initiatives to only those families on income support?
(22) How will the trial interact with existing State truancy policy?
(23) Is the Department responsible for determining the guidelines as to what is considered satisfactory or unsatisfactory levels of attendance?
(24) If yes to (23) -
(a) what are these guidelines; and
(b) when will they be publicly available?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 March 2009
Responded by
Minister for Energy representing the Minister for Education
Response time
119 days
(1) Consultation regarding the
School Enrolment and Attendance Measure
took place between the previous State Government and the Australian Government during 2008. The Cannington District was selected as the 'trial' area.
(2) The Cannington District was identified as it met the Commonwealth requirement of a Metropolitan site. Cannington has a diverse socio-economic population; government and non-government schools and an appropriate number of eligible families for evaluation purposes.
(3) The 2008 attendance rate for the 10 public schools in the area was 89.63% compared to the state rate of 90.76%. Attendance data is not available for the non-government schools.
(4) Not applicable
(5) Not applicable
(6) The Government is reviewing the Australian Government's invitation to participate in the trial. The Government will continue to have further discussions with the Commonwealth to determine any future support to address issues of enrolment and attendance in schools.
(7) I understand that the previous State Government responded to a request from the Australian Government to participate in a trial.
(8) No.
(9) No.
(10) No.
(11) Not applicable
(12) The Department assists parents through school and district based staff that may include Attendance Officers, Aboriginal Islander education officers, school psychologists, social workers, chaplains, youth workers, participation coordinators (for 16 and 17 year olds). Support is also available from many government and non-government agencies such as the Departments of Child Protection, Health and Corrective Services, WANSLEA, Mofflyn, Centrecare, Communicare, Community Link and Network, Mission Australia and Uniting Care West. Examples of specific programs include Parent Support, Triple P and Strong Families. The range of programs and support available varies according to location and community need.
(13) (a) Both preventative and crisis support programs are offered according to parent need and circumstances.
(b) The Department responds to all requests for support from parents. Data about other agencies' programs is not available.
(c) It is not possible to determine unmet need.
(d) Yes.
(14 - 24) Not applicable
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School Enrolment and Attendance Measure
took place between the previous State Government and the Australian Government during 2008. The Cannington District was selected as the 'trial' area.
(2) The Cannington District was identified as it met the Commonwealth requirement of a Metropolitan site. Cannington has a diverse socio-economic population; government and non-government schools and an appropriate number of eligible families for evaluation purposes.
(3) The 2008 attendance rate for the 10 public schools in the area was 89.63% compared to the state rate of 90.76%. Attendance data is not available for the non-government schools.
(4) Not applicable
(5) Not applicable
(6) The Government is reviewing the Australian Government's invitation to participate in the trial. The Government will continue to have further discussions with the Commonwealth to determine any future support to address issues of enrolment and attendance in schools.
(7) I understand that the previous State Government responded to a request from the Australian Government to participate in a trial.
(8) No.
(9) No.
(10) No.
(11) Not applicable
(12) The Department assists parents through school and district based staff that may include Attendance Officers, Aboriginal Islander education officers, school psychologists, social workers, chaplains, youth workers, participation coordinators (for 16 and 17 year olds). Support is also available from many government and non-government agencies such as the Departments of Child Protection, Health and Corrective Services, WANSLEA, Mofflyn, Centrecare, Communicare, Community Link and Network, Mission Australia and Uniting Care West. Examples of specific programs include Parent Support, Triple P and Strong Families. The range of programs and support available varies according to location and community need.
(13) (a) Both preventative and crisis support programs are offered according to parent need and circumstances.
(b) The Department responds to all requests for support from parents. Data about other agencies' programs is not available.
(c) It is not possible to determine unmet need.
(d) Yes.
(14 - 24) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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