APS advocacy win as NSW Government releases Inquiry into children and young people with disability in educational settings report

In an advocacy win for the APS, the NSW Government has released the report for the Inquiry into children and young people with disability in New South Wales educational settings, calling for investment in specialist and allied health workforces, including psychologists, to support children and young people with disabilities in educational settings. Psychologists are well-placed to support NSW schools in these efforts. 

The APS has long advocated for increased investment in early childhood and school settings to support the learning, development, and mental health of all children, including those with disabilities.  

Psychologists, and especially educational and developmental psychologists, as experts in these areas, are crucial in leading and coordinating safe, effective interventions for children, families, and educators, as outlined in the APS Psychologists in Schools Position Statement. 

APS advocacy 

• In our submission we drew attention to the urgent need for increased investment in the school psychology workforce to ensure there are enough psychologists to raise school psychologist ratios per student in all schools, public and independent, and to fill high vacancy rates in rural and remote areas.   
• We highlighted the cumulative negative impacts on inclusion, participation, and transitions for students with additional support needs when there is limited access to diagnosis, support and interventions provided by psychologists in schools. 
• We are also pleased the Committee recommended that the NSW Government ensure schools adopt a trauma-informed approach to managing the behaviour of students with disabilities and provide better professional development for teachers to reduce reliance on suspension and expulsion.  

A collaborative effort 

Thank you to all members who advocated for these changes, this is yet another example of the power of our collective voice. This is a huge win for our profession, and the APS. 

Further resources 

Read our Psychologists in schools: Position Statement here. 

Read the Inquiry into Children and young people with disability in New South Wales educational settings report here.