INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: THE NEED FOR SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION IN AUSTRALIA

4 September 2015  By Cátia Malaquias 
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In August, 2015, I prepared a Submission to the Australian Federal Senate Committee conducting the Inquiry into Education of Students with Disability in Australia, titled “Achieving Inclusive Education -The Need for Systemic and Structured Transformation of Education in Australia”.

In my Submission, I introduce the notion of inclusive education from a human rights perspective, and I present evidence-based research that supports inclusive education for ALL students. Subsequently, I describe the current situation in Australia: sadly, a very considerable proportion of Australian children with disability, and in particular intellectual disability, continue to be educated in segregated “special” school or “special” unit settings; and of those that get to attend mainstream schools, many routinely experience poor practices, exclusion and discrimination.

Sadly, a very considerable proportion of Australian children with disability, and in particular intellectual disability, continue to be educated in segregated “special” school or “special” unit settings.

In the final part of the Submission, I propose a systemic and structured transformation of the Australian education system: in particular, I present the SWIFT program developed by Dr Wayne Sailor, a Professor of Special Education at Kansas University and the Director of the SWIFT National Centre.

The SWIFT model addresses important factors that have been identified in the research as essential to implementing inclusive education:

  1. the role of “administrative leadership” and a “strong educator support system”;
  2. a “multi-tiered system of support” that covers both “inclusive academic instruction” and “inclusive behaviour instruction” (the latter being seen as equally important to address learning barriers for some students);
  3. an integrated educational framework and organisational structure within schools backed by a “strong and positive school culture”;
  4. appropriate engagement with family and community to ensure improved outcomes for all students;
  5. inclusive policies and practices within schools to guide responses and expectations.

The full Submission is available for download HERE.

[Head photo © Larry Darling]

Children & Youth Disability Education & Learning Essays Governance & Policy Human Rights Oceania TOP


Cátia Malaquias
Cátia Malaquias

Cátia Malaquias is a lawyer (LLB/BA), Director of Down Syndrome Australia, Deputy Chair of Down Syndrome WA and an active member of PLEDG, an organisation of parents of children with disability pursuing inclusive education for all children. She is also the founder of Starting With Julius, a project promoting the inclusion of people with disability in media and advertising.

As the mother of three children, one of whom has a disability, she aspires for all children to grow up in a world that respects their rights, embrace their diversity and includes them on an equal basis. Catia advocates for that change through her various roles and in her personal capacity, in the media, social media and public discussion spaces.






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