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MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 4 November 2014


YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY CONTINUE TO BE IN LIMBO
AS EDUCATION MINISTERS DELAY FUNDING
The promised disability loading for school students has been further delayed following a meeting of
federal and state education ministers, according to media reports. The delay has been attributed to
inaccurate data collection as revealed in a commissioned report completed by
PricewaterhouseCoopers that has not been made public.
Stephanie Gotlib, Executive Officer of Children with Disability Australia (CDA) said: State and federal
governments have acknowledged the significant disadvantages students with disability face in
accessing an inclusive education, yet the fix remains elusive. While the systemic inadequacies are
recognised, real action does not appear to be a priority.
Children and young people with disability have been promised better supports in school and access
to a quality education as part of national education reforms. Ms Gotlib said: Every delay has a
devastating impact on students with disability. This reinforces and perpetuates disadvantage. It is
simply unacceptable that children, including our most vulnerable, are being sidelined rather than
supported.
CDA acknowledges the importance of obtaining data to quantify the education reform needed for
students with disability. The direct experiences of the students concerned and their families paint a
blatantly clear picture that the present system is grossly inadequate and inadequate resourcing is a
key factor. The reported key findings of the commissioned research are no surprise.
CDA hears daily of the constant struggle students with disability endure to access an education,
including: imposed part-time attendance, opportunities to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills
denied, inadequate resources, and inadequately trained staff.
There is a critical and urgent need for education reform for students with disability and it is grossly
unfair that those in the greatest need are being forced to wait and cop it on the chin. This long
overdue funding support is essential to enable the much needed overhaul of the education system,
said Ms Gotlib.
CDA calls on all governments to unite and commit to a clear and transparent reform plan to ensure
all students with disability have access to a quality and inclusive school education. This must clearly
articulate the implementation plan for this reform.

STATISTICS SNAPSHOT

26% of people with disability do not go beyond Year 10 compared to 18% of people without
disability

36% of people aged 15 to 64 years with reported disability had completed Year 12 compared
to 55% of people without disability

15% of people with a disability had completed a bachelor degree or higher compared to 26%
of people without a disability

68 % young people with disability were neither working nor studying part time or full time


53% of people with disability are employed compared to 83% of people without disability.

People with a disability in Australia are only half (50%) as likely to be employed as people
without a disability

45% of people with a disability in Australia live in or near poverty, more than double the
OECD average of 22%
***Ends***
Media Contact
Sara Irvine 0402 982 002
Interview Contact
Stephanie Gotlib 0425 724 230
Children with Disability Australia (CDA) is the national peak body, which represents children and
young people (aged 0-25) with disability. Website: www.cda.org.au

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