All state primary schools in Brimbank will have access to a full-time welfare officer by 2016, and the state Coalition is promising $78 million over four years to maintain current officers, if re-elected.
There are 32 government primary schools in Brimbank, all except Keilor Primary School currently employ a welfare officer. However, not all are full-time.
St Albans East Primary School principal Anne-Maree Kliman said it was a great decision for her 386-pupil school.
“Currently, only the most disadvantaged schools have access to a welfare officer,” Ms Kliman said.
“The degree of how much of that service you get depends on how disadvantaged your school is.
“This funding will bring us in line with what secondary schools have.”
Ms Kliman said St Albans East currently has a teacher who oversees its welfare program.
“Their role is to deal with disciplinary matters, work with children with disabilities and uphold school values.”
The current cap on an individual school’s funding for a welfare officer is $70,000.
The Coalition would not confirm how many additional welfare officers would be working in schools under its planned changes, and Keilor Primary School did not respond before the Star Weekly’s deadline about whether this would give it the incentive to apply for welfare officer funding next year.
In 2010, before the last state election, then-opposition leader Ted Baillieu promised primary school pupils would have access to 150 welfare officers, saying $34 million would be committed to that promise.
Premier Denis Napthine said the government had delivered on its commitment of an extra 150 primary welfare officers in its first term.
“This initiative will help all government primary schools to better manage challenges, such as bullying,” Dr Napthine said.
“[This] will support students with behavioural, mental health and welfare issues.”
The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) has welcomed the Coalition’s promise of welfare support.
“Primary welfare officers have an important role in ensuring young students have appropriate support,” VCOSS chief executive Emma King said.
“Increasing coverage to all government primary schools is a welcome initiative.”
