Union backs proposal to overhaul public schools as one-stop shop health and welfare services

The public school teachers union is backing a maverick proposal to make schools one-stop shop hubs for education and health and welfare.

EXCLUSIVE

The body representing Australian public school and early childhood teachers has backed a move to overhaul the role of schools as early warning hubs for children at risk of turning to crime.

As revealed on Saturday, a blueprint proposal is to be handed to federal parliament flagging a possible change of “mid last century” bureaucracy to better tackle the youth crime crisis.

Under the proposal being put forward by Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds, schools would be evolved to become as one-stop shop community hubs with integration into health, welfare and other social services.

Her report is to be handed to the federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and be tabled for public comment around July.

Children at risk of turning to criminal behaviour would be identified early and assist families to access critical services such as mental health, substance abuse or other behavioural issues.

Federal President of the Australian Education Union, Correna Haythorpe at Parliament House in Canberra in November 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The plan, while yet to be released, has the early support of the Australian Education Union Federal President Correna Haythorpe who was familiar with discussions.

Ms Haythorpe said there were formidable challenges facing the school system including unacceptable achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds and locations, declining levels of student wellbeing and mental health.

“Part of the solution to these problems is the creation of full-service public schools that include community and allied health services to help students overcome barriers to their learning and provide them with greater individual support,” she said.

“The inclusion of early learning facilities and adult community education can also help to ensure that public schools are able to provide a continuum of support for children and adults.

“These schools are most urgently needed in disadvantaged communities where student needs are greatest and families can have difficulty accessing community-based services.”

Police responding to youth crime. Picture: supplied

But Ms Haythorpe said the public schools needed to be fully funded to provide these kinds of services, have more teachers and purpose-built facilities.

“Right now, only 1.3 per cent of public schools in Australia are fully funded. The Albanese Government needs to honour its promise to work with state and territory governments to deliver full funding for public schools. It also needs to invest in new and upgraded schools.” She said under current plans, private schools will get $1 billion extra in capital funding over the next four years from the Albanese Government while public schools would get nothing after this year.

New National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Since May last year Ms Hollonds has travelled about Australia taking 164 submissions and conducting round tables with various agencies including victims’ groups, exploring ways to reduce youth crime without resorting to increased juvenile justice measures.

She branded bureaucracies as “mid-last century” and not longer fit-for-purpose.

She said solutions had to be evidence-based and studies had shown getting to kids earlier worked but not while there was a co-ordination failure of basic support services in health, education and special needs.

“I think of schools as just another public service in the community, they are a publicly funded service and there is a primary school in almost every community so why can’t we have other services like health services in particular operating out of the school or closely connected to the school?” she asked.

“If we are serious about keeping communities safer then surely we would pull together across the federation and build a 10-year road map for reform and get on with it.”