Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Inclusive education

Matthew BACH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) presented a petition bearing 424 signatures:

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council the severe impact that the Government’s cuts to the visiting teachers service will have on the learning outcomes of students with disabilities. Currently, the Department of Education through the visiting teachers service utilises 117 highly trained teachers to provide individualised, one-on-one educational support for children who are deaf and hard of hearing, blind or have low vision, or have other varied disabilities and illnesses. This support often includes the teaching of braille and Auslan, the provision of assistive technology, and engaging with the child’s teachers to better integrate children with disabilities with their classrooms. The Government’s decision to cut this service to 32 teachers statewide was made without consultation with experts, families, students, and advocacy groups such as the South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (SPEVI) and the National Association of Australian Teachers of the Deaf (NAATD). Both SPEVI and NAATD have voiced their grave concerns about this decision and have made their opposition to these cuts known.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to reverse the cuts to the visiting teacher service.

Matthew BACH: I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration on the next day of meeting.

I note that originally the language of the petition directed matters to Minister Hutchins, who was the education minister at the time. Since, thankfully, she has been sacked from that role, this will have to be diverted to the new Minister for Education.

Motion agreed to.