❓ Hon. Sue Ellery raises concerns about the educational experiences of children with disabilities in WA and asks if the government will submit to the national review, incorporating parents' views. Hon. Helen Morton assures that parents' views will be sought and included in the submission.
AnsweredQoN 173Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY STANDARDS FOR EDUCATION REVIEW — WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SUBMISSION
(1) Is the minister aware of the frustration of an increasing number of parents with school-aged children with disabilities that their children are not able to meet their aspirations in the Western Australian school system? (2) Will the Western Australian government make a submission to the national Disability Standards for Education review and ensure that it canvasses the views of Western Australian parents, as well as the relevant bureaucracies in the Disability Services Commission and the Department of Education? Hon HELEN MORTON
(1) Is the minister aware of the frustration of an increasing number of parents with school-aged children with disabilities that their children are not able to meet their aspirations in the Western Australian school system? (2) Will the Western Australian government make a submission to the national Disability Standards for Education review and ensure that it canvasses the views of Western Australian parents, as well as the relevant bureaucracies in the Disability Services Commission and the Department of Education? Hon HELEN MORTON
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
(2) Will the Western Australian government make a submission to the national Disability Standards for Education review and ensure that it canvasses the views of Western Australian parents, as well as the relevant bureaucracies in the Disability Services Commission and the Department of Education? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
(1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
(2) Will the Western Australian government make a submission to the national Disability Standards for Education review and ensure that it canvasses the views of Western Australian parents, as well as the relevant bureaucracies in the Disability Services Commission and the Department of Education? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
I thank the honourable member for asking the question. (1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
(1)–(2) I am familiar with the frustration of parents of disabled children about enabling their children to have access to schooling. Like most other members in this chamber, I have been “adopted” by a family with a disabled child, and I meet with them very regularly. That child is now aged eight, and I began my association with that family when he was aged four. Of course I have had the opportunity to be a party to the issues that have been ongoing for that particular child. Apart from that, I am generally aware of the issues on a broader scale. The second question was: will I ensure that parents — Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
Hon Sue Ellery : The second part of the question is: will the Western Australian government make a submission, and will the minister ensure that it puts the views of not just the agency but also the parents? Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I think I can be absolutely confident in saying that the views of parents will be sought and will be included in that; I do not believe the bureaucracy would make a submission without doing that. Apart from that, the Disability Services Commission has an advisory council and other bodies that it consults with regularly to form the views that go forward. But I take this opportunity to say that I will ensure that parents are consulted in that. I anticipate that there will be a Western Australian submission.
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.