Six new student behaviour centres for WA

The State Government will embark on a major expansion of a successful behaviour centre program to deal with students with highly disruptive and challenging behaviours.

Education Minister Liz Constable today announced six new centres in Port Hedland, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Bunbury.

She said the centres would cost $18million over four years and were part of the State Government's $46million strategy to improve student behaviour.

"One of the most significant challenges facing our public education system is poor student behaviour, with verbal and physical abuse by students against teachers and other students becoming more common," Dr Constable said.

"This kind of behaviour is not only unacceptable to teachers and fellow students, but it also hinders the education and development of the perpetrator.

"We are committed to improving student behaviour and pastoral care in public schools throughout the State.

"A significant part of that plan involves the establishment of the new behaviour centres, which will give students - many of whom have complex needs - individually tailored and case-managed programs."

Behaviour centres for primary students will be established in Bunbury, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Geraldton, and for secondary students in Bunbury, Geraldton and Port Hedland.

Planning for the new centres would begin immediately.

"While the behaviour centres are proving successful with many disruptive students, some students with complex social or emotional issues do not benefit from withdrawal from mainstream school," the Minister said.

"For this reason, the behaviour centre program is one of a raft of measures which also includes a stronger emphasis on pastoral care and counselling services."

There are eight existing behaviour centres around Western Australia - three secondary (North Lake, Belmont and Kalgoorlie-Boulder) and five primary (Embleton, Hilton, Mandurah, Duncraig and Maddington).

Other behaviour improvement strategies already announced by the State Government included:

·        $10million over four years to ensure that every school has access to services provided by school chaplains

·        $8.8million over four years to appoint an additional 50 school psychologists - a 25 per cent increase on current numbers

·        $252,000 to train 25 school psychologists in mental health first aid in 2009 and another 15 in 2010-12.