Planning for new Palmerston specialist school despite Disability Royal Commission advice

The NT government will turn to families and teachers for advice around a new specialist secondary school in Palmerston, just two months after concerned parents submitted a petition to parliament.

Planning for the Territory’s sixth specialist school has begun despite a controversial recommendation to close similar schools across Australia.

The new school – to be built in Palmerston – would increase education opportunities for students living with a disability beyond a primary level.

Currently, the Palmerston Secondary Education Centre is the only local option for high school students with disabilities.

It comes just two months after Palmerston parent Mya Do’s petition was tabled in parliament in March.

Education Minister Mark Monaghan.

Mya Do and son Memphis petitioned for a specialist secondary school in Palmerston.

Ms Do previously told the NT News the struggle of enrolling high school students in specialist education was forcing people to homeschool their kids or leave the Territory.

“Parents that have professional careers that are needed for the Territory – doctors, nurses, all these things – have to leave because there’s no way for their kids to feel safe,” she said in January.

Education Minister Mark Monaghan said parents deserved the choice to enrol their kids in Territory schools regardless of their ability.

In delivering that choice, he said the NT government was investing $2 million from the 2024 Budget to conduct assessments and consult stakeholders around the requirements of the new specialist school – as well as another mainstream secondary school in the area.

Mr Monaghan said about 120 more students in Palmerston would need access to specialist education in the coming years.

“No other government has done more or will do more, than the Lawler government for education in the Territory,” he said.

“Every single child, no matter their ability or where they live, deserves a quality education, and access to quality fit for purpose facilities, facilities which the Territory Labor government will continue to deliver.”

The NT government has not previously confirmed whether it would implement the Disability Royal Commission’s October recommendation to close specialist schools.

Mr Monaghan in January said he would “work alongside all jurisdictions, including the federal government to consider the recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission”.