What actions, if any, is the Minister taking to address research showing that autistic students are almost three times more likely to be stood down or suspended than non autistic students?

Answer

Through Budget 2025, I have made a significant investment of $646 million of operating funding and $100.9 million of capital funding to support children with additional learning needs. This includes: • $266 million to extend the Early Intervention Service (EIS) from early childhood education through to the end of Year 1. This will fund more than 560 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) over the next five years for EIS teachers and specialists. This funding also includes $40 million for 900,000 additional Teacher Aide hours for young learners in the EIS. • $192.5 million so that all state and state integrated schools and kura with Year 1 to 8 students have access to a Learning Support Coordinator (around 650 additional FTTE), enabling improved identification of, and response to learner needs. • $3 million of investment in teacher aides with targeted professional learning and development to help them support learners with social, emotional, wellbeing and behavioural needs associated with disability and neurodiversity. • $90 million of capital funding and $18.4 million of operating funding for 25 new learning support satellite classrooms to provide around 225 new student places across the Ministry’s specialist school network, and up to 365 property modifications to make schools more accessible. This funding will enable teachers and specialists to identify students’ learning support needs early, and provide the right support to improve attendance and lift achievement.