❓ A WA parliamentary question highlights concerns about inadequate design and technology facilities at Halls Creek District High School, specifically an uninsulated tin shed. The Minister acknowledges the issue and promises to examine it further.
AnsweredQoN 16Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HALLS CREEK DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL — DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES
I refer to Coroner Alastair Hope’s damning report, which cites the need for more training for Aboriginal youth. (1) Is the minister aware that the design and technology facility at Halls Creek District High School is an uninsulated tin shed where temperatures in the high 40 degrees are regularly recorded? (2) Is it acceptable that students are expected to learn trade skills under such appalling conditions? (3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN
I refer to Coroner Alastair Hope’s damning report, which cites the need for more training for Aboriginal youth. (1) Is the minister aware that the design and technology facility at Halls Creek District High School is an uninsulated tin shed where temperatures in the high 40 degrees are regularly recorded? (2) Is it acceptable that students are expected to learn trade skills under such appalling conditions? (3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(1) Is the minister aware that the design and technology facility at Halls Creek District High School is an uninsulated tin shed where temperatures in the high 40 degrees are regularly recorded? (2) Is it acceptable that students are expected to learn trade skills under such appalling conditions? (3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(2) Is it acceptable that students are expected to learn trade skills under such appalling conditions? (3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(1) Is the minister aware that the design and technology facility at Halls Creek District High School is an uninsulated tin shed where temperatures in the high 40 degrees are regularly recorded? (2) Is it acceptable that students are expected to learn trade skills under such appalling conditions? (3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(2) Is it acceptable that students are expected to learn trade skills under such appalling conditions? (3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(3) Will the minister immediately authorise funding for that building to be air-conditioned? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
I thank the member for Merredin for the question. (1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
(1)-(3) I have read the relevant parts of the coroner’s report on the education portfolio and I want to say this about what he had to say. I have been to many Indigenous communities and other towns that are predominantly Indigenous towns in the Kimberley and the Pilbara. My impression, after visiting the schools and TAFE colleges in those locations, is that the education department staff, the teachers, the education assistants and the Aboriginal Islander education officers in those schools do a fantastic job. I do not want any of them to think that the job they do is somehow being denigrated in the coroner’s report. I challenge any member who wants to do something interesting to visit one of the schools in those communities to see the effort to which teachers and other staff in those schools go to educate children in those locations. The results are coming through. It is a long-term process to get Indigenous education standards, achievements and results to the same level as the non-Indigenous community. It is a long-term process and it will not happen overnight. However, the resources that are going into those communities are extraordinary, as members will see when they visit schools in those communities. I will refer to a few matters—the new school at Fitzroy Crossing, the improvements to TAFE in Broome, the additional resources at Kununurra District High School and the Clontarf academies. There are now eight Clontarf academies around the state. There is one for girls, which is a basketball academy. In the schools themselves there are breakfast clubs and pick-ups for students who might otherwise not be able to get to school. All these things are going on. There are far higher levels than ever before of Aboriginal students completing year 12, far higher levels of Aboriginal students now completing apprenticeships and traineeships, and far higher levels of Aboriginal students going on to university and completing university degrees. Those facts and the people responsible for all their work must be acknowledged. I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
I am unaware of the issue relating to the shed at Halls Creek, but if the member provides me with details, I will examine them.
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