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WA Tables Disability Education Review, Backs One Legal Change and Flags Reform Unit

Advocates say only clear legislation plus independent oversight will remove enrolment barriers.

Overview

  • An independent review delivered 15 recommendations to strengthen access and inclusion for students with disability in Western Australian schools.
  • The government fully accepted one recommendation to update the definition of disability, supported nine in principle, and placed five under further consideration.
  • Education Minister Sabine Winton announced a new disability reform unit, a review of enrolment processes and teacher training, and noted a 30% increase in education assistants since 2017.
  • The review called for laws to prevent disability being used in enrolment decisions, clearer rules on restrictive practices, and highlighted indirect discrimination risks in private-school admissions such as requests for NAPLAN results.
  • Advocacy groups including Square Peg Round Hole and Developmental Disability WA criticised the response as insufficient and pushed for statutory reform and an independent complaints body.