ASEPA
La Guardia Loop Port Kennedy 6157 WA
Ph: (08) 9593 9030
Fax: (08) 9593 9040
Mobile: 0409 409901
Email: Fiona.Forbes@det.wa.edu.au
Media Release
For immediate release
Early Advice on Students with Disabilities
Applause to the Gillard Government
The announcement by Minister Peter Garrett today is a huge step forward in valuing the learning of
Students with Disabilities and Special Needs, the schools they attend, their teachers and their families.
The Gillard government is to be applauded for recognising this significant population of school age
students who have not directly been targeted by the state and territory implementation of the National
Partnership initiatives.
Fiona Forbes, National President of the Australian Special Education Principals Association and a
member of the new working group said the first meeting of the group today was productive and very
inclusive of all key stakeholders.
“Everyone recognises the urgent need to ensure that schools, teachers, and families who
support the learning of students with disabilities and special needs are enabled to continue to
support learning outcomes for these students who make up over 10% of the cohort in schools”
said Ms Forbes.
“While there has been significant funding through the Education Revolution for raising student
outcomes through literacy, numeracy and low socio-economic National Partnerships, states and
territories are not obliged to ensure that students with disabilities and special needs are
included in this. In fact many jurisdictions have exempted special schools and facilities from the
funding.”
The attention by the Minister and the government in addressing this need by seeking advice from the
new working party is a major step in the right direction. Meanwhile, the Australian Special Education
Principals Association and others will continue to lobby for substantive longer term reforms for this group
of students.
ASEPA represents over 1000 leaders in special schools and special education facilities in primary, secondary and
early intervention programs across Australia.
Media Contact
Fiona Forbes (WA) – National President, Australian Special Education Principals Association
Mobile – 0409 409 901
Available for interview anytime.
NEWS 
