ABOUT 1200 prep students in the west will miss out on school entry health checks because of inadequate state government funding.
The ‘school entrant health questionnaire’, which detects health issues including autism, epilepsy, and ear, eye and speech problems, has been scrapped at 15 western suburbs schools.
Children at Williamstown, Williamstown North and Kingsville primary schools are among those affected.
Vulnerable children will be at risk of having health problems go undetected, says Williamstown North Primary School principal Jim Cahill.
“The cuts are very disappointing, ” he said.
“It puts some of our very young, vulnerable students at a greater risk.
“Early identification and screening is obviously critical to be able to put supported frameworks in place for those students.
“It means we might not pick up those risk indicators as early as we would like to at times, such as any underlying medical issues or health issues or impairments that we’re not aware of.”
State Williamstown MP Wade Noonan has called on Education Minister Martin Dixon to guarantee funding for preps to undergo the questionnaire and have health issues addressed through the primary school nursing program.
“Melbourne’s west is home to a higher-than-average number of children with high-level health and behavioural needs,” he said.
“It’s also home to a high number of new arrivals, with about one-third of refugees who settle in Melbourne settling in Melbourne’s north or west. It is estimated that 18 primary schools in Melbourne’s west may miss out on this essential service, resulting in about 1200 prep-aged students missing out on a face-to-face nurse’s examination.
“The health of our children should not be the subject of a lucky dip. It’s imperative that the Baillieu government provides adequate resources to fund this program.
Mr Dixon said the questionnaire was voluntary, “and obviously when things are voluntary you cannot guarantee results”. “It is up to schools whether they want to participate in the questionnaire or not,” he said.
Mr Dixon’s spokesman Ashley Gardiner said there had been no cuts to frontline services.
“In a small number of schools in the western metropolitan region, assessments are currently being done on the basis of teacher identification and referral to the department’s regional nurse manager to ensure no child’s health, developmental concerns or delays go undetected.”
