As resolved on a motion in the House of Assembly, the Social Development Committee is conducting an inquiry into Petition No. 96 of 2021 -

Title:

Urgent Need to Fund Support for Children and Students in Public Schools and Preschools

Request:

Your petitioners request that your Honourable House will urge the Government to increase funding to schools and preschools to provide immediate support and intervention for children and students with additional learning needs through the employment of more support staff, specialists and allied health (including mental health) professionals and teachers.

Argument:

 

We draw to the attention of the Honourable House the serious issues with accessing funding & support for children & students with additional learning needs. Currently schools & preschools are not adequately funded to provide in-class/group support & intervention & must apply for additional funding for each child.  According to teachers & leaders, only 9% of these applications are funded at the level requested. Some children are waiting more than 2 years to get assessed by a specialist causing significant delays to intervention & support.

 

Any person or organisation wanting to make a written submission to the inquiry is invited to do so by Friday 19 May 2023. Please note, the Committee reserves the right to determine which witnesses will be invited to provide an oral submission. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, submissions are made publicly available on the internet.

Additional information on the Committee and making a submission is available at:

https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/committees/sdc

Please address enquiries and submissions to:

The Secretary, Social Development Committee,
E-mail:  sdc@parliament.sa.gov.au    
GPO Box 572, Adelaide 5001

For further information contact: 08 82379416

Acknowledgement of Country

The Parliament of South Australia acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to land and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the Elders both past and present.