Victorian Education Minister Natalie Hutchins has announced a backflip on a previous decision to cut dozens of visiting teacher jobs in the state.
The news comes after a previous report by EducationDaily in early August revealed that more than 80 out of 117 visiting teachers who offered much-needed support to children with disabilities were having their jobs slashed.
In a meeting with families on Tuesday, Ms Hutchins met with families on Tuesday, 22 August, and announced that the jobs of all 80 visiting teachers were now safe.
The backflip was a response to campaigning by Victorian families and disability advocates, who called on the state government to urgently reinstate the jobs.
The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch strongly condemned the state government’s decision to cut visiting teacher jobs in the middle of an already “severe” teacher workforce shortage in the state.
The Croydon Labor branch last week moved a motion to prevent the removal of visiting teachers.
The motion called on the Department of Education to agree it would retain “the Visiting Teachers program in frontline positions in schools so they can continue their vital work” and immediately consult with advocacy groups and key stakeholders to discuss the needs of children with disabilities.
The motion was sent to Disability Minister Lizzie Blandthorn and Ms Hutchins.
Ms Hutchins said the government had “listened to families, carers and teachers, and have heard about the value that our Visiting Teachers provide for children with disabilities across the state”.
“Many students who currently receive support from the Visiting Teachers program will get the same extra assistance as part of our $1.6bn Disability Inclusion reforms,” Ms Hutchins said.
“We’ll also bring Visiting Teachers into the Disability Inclusion program as Disability Inclusion Visiting Teachers for schools and families who wish to keep using the service.
“The Disability Inclusion Visiting Teachers will mean a more cohesive and consistent approach across the state, ensuring our schools have access to a wider range of targeted supports that build on the individual strengths of each student.”
AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace says the union welcomed the news that the state government would ensure visiting teacher positions were retained, while Shadow Parliamentary Education Secretary Melina Bath called it a “great day” for regional students and their families.
“This is an important win for our members and the students, their families, and schools they work with. AEU members are congratulated for all their efforts to campaign against these cuts,” Ms Peace said.
“Visiting teachers are expert, specialised teachers who play a crucial role in our public schools and help ensure that students in need get the supports they require to thrive academically and socially.
“We are pleased the minister has genuinely engaged with the AEU, parents, disability advocacy groups, families and the community and taken this proposal off the table.”
Ms Hutchins also agreed that Andale, a special school in Kew that was one of 60 on the state’s payroll tax ‘hit list,’ will not be forced to pay the new payroll tax next year.
Murray Nicol, Andale School council president, was pleased with the outcome and thanked Minister Hutchins “for listening to us”.
