Our thoughts are firmly with the affected family as they navigate what must be a challenging time.

Parents of students with disabilities expect our public schools to respectfully engage and support their students.

We need to know that our young people will be provided with the right supports and adjustments, that they will be valued, accepted for who they are and welcomed into our public schools.

Parents also have every right to expect they will be notified of incidents involving their child in an honest and timely way. Anything less is a serious breach of the trust parents place in our schools every day.

The use of restrictive practices is strictly regulated and needs to adhere to the law.

We will await the findings of the investigations taking place to see how the ACT public education system can do better.

In the past 10 years, feedback from parents to council and through P&Cs has shaped improvements to the experience of families of students with disabilities in our public schools.

Our representation, outlining the experiences of families, has seen the ACT government commit to making public education more inclusive through the Inclusion Strategy and the $10 million trial of inclusion coaches in selected Tuggeranong schools.

We also know and value the many dedicated staff within our schools and the ACT Education Directorate that work hard every day to support our young people and meet their needs. Sadly, this is not everyone's experience.

Many parents of students with disabilities find themselves navigating a complex system and spend hours advocating for their children's needs to be met - efforts not required of other families.

It is emotionally draining and exhausting.

Parents need clear and easy-to-find information, on what they can expect from our schools, no matter which public school they attend.

Parents want to partner with their schools, to have open and honest communication that accurately reflects their child's experiences.

Transparency is vital for fostering trust and ensuring that all families of students, particularly those with disabilities, receive the support and adjustments they need to thrive.

We need a public education system that prioritises inclusion, providing more resources and quality advice to schools. A system that invests in and delivers training and development for all staff.

And we need to ensure that all schools have a share of highly experienced staff. We propose several crucial changes to address these issues.

First, we need an independent complaints system. It is unacceptable for complaints from parents to be handled by the very school they are raising concerns about.

Referring complaints back to a school only escalates tensions and undermines the essential partnership families have with their school.

Parents want to be confident that their concerns are being heard, taken seriously, and addressed impartially and effectively.

We are calling on the ACT government to fund a trial of a parent advocacy service because we know how challenging it is for parents, particularly those with students with disabilities and or complex behaviours, to navigate this system.

This trial would provide public school families with tailored advocacy service, connecting them with the right services and processes, and building strong, supportive partnerships with their schools.

Run by parents, for parents, this initiative acknowledges the critical role that parental involvement plays in achieving a great education for all students.

Our government and community need to invest in our public education system, providing resources, training, and clear communication, so we can rebuild trust and create a system where all students, regardless of their needs, are given the opportunity to succeed.

Our community and government must do more to support our most vulnerable students and their families. The time for action is now.

 By Executive Officer Veronica Elliott

Published in The Canberra Times  7 August 2024