Overcoming disadvantage

Sacred Heart principal Craig Holmes, student Mitchell Cole, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Senator Jacinta Collins, Federal Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, school captain John-Joe Wilson, student Rhys Morton, and school captain Rauri Barker met this week as part of Ms Collin's Kyneton visit.

Kylie Kitchen

Better disability assistance was promised by the Parliamentary Secretary for School Education when she visited Kyneton schools on Wednesday.

Senator Jacinta Collins and Federal Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, met with teachers and students at Sacred Heart College, Kyneton Secondary College and Kyneton Primary School.

Ms Collins discussed how the schools will benefit from a nationwide share in $100 million extra into the More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative in 2014. 

"You'll see some good examples here - better support for students with disabilities to make transitions into employment and further education, and assisted technology," she said.

"The new funding means teachers at Sacred Heart will be able to continue providing additional support for students with disabilities to transition effectively between stages of school and from school into further education, training or employment. 

"While school principals and school leaders at Kyneton Primary and Kyneton Secondary will receive more professional development to build on the excellent work they have already been doing in supporting students with autism."

Sacred Heart students, Mitchell Cole (year 11) and Rhys Morton (year 9), shared their personal experiences with Ms Collins and Ms Chesters. They asked how the Government will improve disability access and services to students at school and in employment and further education prospects. 

Sacred Heart principal, Craig Holmes, welcomed the extra support for students with physical, mental and learning disabilities. 

"Certainly we want to have more disability access for those with mobility issues and also for students with auditory processing issues to be catered for," he said.

"That means providing the technologies they require to assist them in their learning so they are not disadvantaged from their peers.

"And certainly as a school we want to see students' ability rather than their disability."

Mr Holmes said disability funding will affect not only physically disabled students but those with social/emotional issues, autism spectrum disorder, and hearing impairment.

"We hope that with funding we can identify more resources that will overcome disadvantage," he said. 

"Their future prospects for employment and on going study are important.

"In the end, we want students to have full access to the education opportunities we offer."