Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I would like to briefly highlight the dilemma of Insight Education in Berwick. Based in the La Trobe electorate, this is the only dedicated school for blind and visually impaired students in Victoria and it educates children from prep to year 8. Insight has previously received federal funding—that was one of my election commitments—and state government funding, but now it is underutilised and quickly becoming marginalised. Government schools are blocked from accessing Insight for relevant students and, consequently, zero referrals are being made. With no referrals, it is extremely difficult for the school to remain open.

I'm advised by Alan Lachman, the Insight founder and managing director, that families who have children at the school have been strongly discouraged from enrolling by the Victorian education department. This is an absolute disgrace. Instead, they are directed back into the mainstream government education system, despite the fact that blind and visually-impaired students are probably less equipped than any other children for coping in mainstream classrooms, where 80 per cent of learning is visual. This is an absolute disgrace, and I'm calling on the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, and the Minister for Education, James Merlino, to immediately make sure that students are referred to Insight for them to look after blind and visually-impaired students— (Time expired)

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The debate is interrupted. In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.