Media Release: WELFARE OFFICERS TO START IN 110 PRIMARY SCHOOLS

FROM THE MINISTER FOR SKILLS

DATE: Monday, September 22, 2003

WELFARE OFFICERS TO START IN 110 PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Welfare officers are for the first time to be appointed to 110 Victorian primary schools under the first phase of a four-year plan to employ 256 officers at primary schools across Victoria.

Schools will begin recruitment of the equivalent of 64 full time new welfare officers from the commencement of term 4 (October 6).

The Minister for Education Services Jacinta Allan, said that a further 220 schools would be allocated part-time officers next year, with a final 120 schools set to join the program in 2005.

Ms Allan said the plan was part of the Bracks Government’s commitment to provide a secure and supportive environment for Victorian students.

“The Bracks Government made an election commitment to provide $49.5 million for 256 primary welfare officers because we recognised a need to help our younger students reach their potential,” Ms Allan said.

“Students face a whole range of personal, social and family issues at different stages in their lives, and some may need specialist support and guidance at those times.

The welfare officers will be allocated to either individual schools or clusters of schools in all nine Department of Education & Training regions across the state.

They will have the task of setting up strategies to deal with issues such as truancy and bullying, improving student involvement at school, enhancing links between parents and school and establishing better links with community agencies.

Where appropriate, the officers will work in conjunction with the Department of Human Services and Crime Prevention Victoria.

Student welfare coordinators are already employed in secondary schools.

Funding for the initiative was confirmed in the 2003 State Budget, which allocated $49.5 million to employ the equivalent of 256 full-time primary school welfare officers.

Ms Allan said this was in addition to the $38 million over three years in the 2002 State Budget to employ welfare coordinators in secondary schools.

She said the program was the latest in a series of initiatives - including reducing Prep to Year 2 class sizes and introducing early years literacy and numeracy programs - aimed at giving primary students every opportunity to reach their full potential.