The information in the Weekly Wrap is aggregated from other news sources to provide you with news that is relevant to the education sector across Australia and worldwide. Each paragraph is a summary of the subject matter covered in the particular news article. The information does not necessarily reflect the views of CompliSpace.

AUSTRALIA

More school psychologists, better GP training will improve mental health system: report

The Age reports that beefing up the number of psychologists in schools, reviewing basic mental health training for GPs and expanding online services are among measures recommended to help bring the mental health sector out of crisis. The final report of Federal Parliament’s select committee on mental health and suicide prevention released recently made 44 recommendations to improve the system, which it said was at a tipping point. The report recommended increasing the number of postgraduate psychology places as well as an independent review of school counselling programs, including the national school chaplaincy program. It said the Commonwealth and state governments should work together to increase the ratio of school psychologists to a minimum of one full-time equivalent for every 500 students. The report also highlighted the need for more acknowledgement of the importance of mental health through a permanent standing committee on mental health and suicide prevention in the next Parliament, and making sure the deputy medical officer for mental health could advise the government and actively participate in crisis meetings.

Report highlights the importance for 'high-impact leadership' in regional and remote schools

According to an article in The Educator, a new report from the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment (DESE) has highlighted the importance and key attributes of impactful leaders in regional and remote schools across Australia to achieve equitable outcomes for all students. According to the report, high-impact leaders must demonstrate an innovation imperative, which requires having a “long-term and multi-agency perspective to school improvement”; collective responsibility where collaboration, and not competition, becomes central to the work of the schools, and decision-making and responsibility are shared; a focus on improving teaching where leaders are actively involved, and learning is based on a broader range of assessments more than standardised tests; and visibility in and commitment to the community, which is central to the uptake and success of community initiatives. However, Associate Professor Ladwig notes “the key points of the report remain plausible and reasonable, but untested”. “More research is needed to secure these findings,” he said.

Cold snaps hurt student academic results more than heat: study

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that a major study of how temperatures influence children’s academic performance in NSW found it is cold weather, rather than heat, that leads to a significant drop in students’ NAPLAN results. The impact of cold temperatures on test scores was more prevalent among high school students and boys, and only apparent in schools with low air conditioning coverage. Authors of the study, which has been published in an international journal, the Economics of Education Review, say the results are consistent with past findings that people who live in warm places are less prepared for cold weather. However, research has shown cold weather affects people more in areas where they are not used to it. “In areas where the cold days are rare, [the impact on NAPLAN is] larger,” he said. “We don’t prepare well for the cold in Australia.” Western Sydney University senior research fellow Sebastian Pfautsch said many global studies - including international school assessments - show heat is impacting learning. “It’s interesting to look at cold, but more work needs to be done in that area to become broadly applicable,” he said.

Noel Greenaway: Parramatta Girls Training School boss loses appeal

The Herald Sun reports that a child predator jailed for horrific crimes against minors inside a school’s “dungeon” has lost his fight for a retrial and a shorter prison sentence. Former Parramatta Girls Training School boss Noel Frederick Greenaway will serve out his 20-year jail term in its entirety after the Supreme Court threw out his appeal on Monday. The 84-year-old had argued the sentence was “excessive” and that his convictions after a 15-week District Court trial should be thrown out. Greenaway, formerly of Normanhurst, was jailed in 2019 over the graphic allegations that first emerged at the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. His trial at the time heard he was involved in vile acts against six underage girls, including a pregnant 16-year-old who he beat up inside the school’s decrepit “dungeon”. The girls had arrived into Greenaway’s car in the 1960s and 1970s from troubled pasts and fractured homes before they were subjected to a torrent of depraved sexual abuse by him and his peers. Greenaway will be released in 2039 but will be eligible for parole in September 2029.

Parents’ legal fight to scrap school mask mandate

The Herald Sun reports that more than 100 frustrated parents fed up with the chief health officer’s schools mask mandate are launching a class action against the Andrews Government in a bid to scrap the rule. Roberts Gray Lawyers has issued a public appeal for mums and dads “concerned” about the mandate that requires school kids in grades three and above to wear a face mask to contact the firm to bring the lawsuit before the courts. The parents want the state government stripped of the power to enforce the mask mandate on children and to close playgrounds in the event of future lockdowns. Roberts Gray’s managing director Rhys Roberts said most of Victoria’s pandemic measures had been responsible and effective, but questioned “the merit and appropriateness” of having kids wear masks in the classroom. Despite amendments to public health directives that no longer require schools to close down entirely if a positive case is detected, the lawsuit also aims to remove playground and classroom closures from health authorities’ arsenal.

South Australian school communities concerned over state government's COVID-19 plans

9News reports that there are concerns in South Australia that school ventilation systems are not scheduled to be audited until after the state's borders open. A ventilation audit of 900 schools isn't expected to be completed until early December. However, the state is set to open up to visitors — bringing the potential of new cases of COVID-19 — on November 23. Parents and teachers are fearing for children's safety, with only 21 per cent of the state's 12 to 15-year-olds fully vaccinated against COVID-19. There are also calls for a clear plan of what will happen if COVID-19 infiltrates a school. Minister for Police and Emergency Services Vincent Tarzia has said the government would "continue to look at that matter". Other states have opted for the installation of air purifiers as one line of protection, with Victoria ordering more than 50,000. The South Australian government has not made any decisions regarding purifiers. Shadow Education Minister Blair Boyer said the government potentially faced delays by waiting to make a decision on purifiers.

Insurance Commission of WA braces for $300m in child abuse compensation claims

The West Australian reports that the State Government insurer is bracing for nearly $300 million of compensation claims from victims of child sexual abuse. It is the first time the Insurance Commission of WA has quantified the expected payouts, and reflects a spike in claims since in 2018 the WA Government scrapped time limits on reporting historical abuse. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse estimated that about 60,000 Australians experienced childhood abuse. ICWA has responsibility for the Government’s insurance arrangements, including compensation claims from victims of abuse in State-run institutions, such as schools and hostels. Its annual report reveals in the 12 months to June 30, claim numbers leapt 72 per cent to 232, up 97 on a year earlier. The surge has prompted ICWA to provide in its annual accounts for expected payouts of $275m over the next few years. Chief executive Rod Whithear said after evaluating how claims developed elsewhere in Australia, he would not be surprised if costs exceed $300m.

Perth school students accused of plotting to kill teacher appear in court

The Age reports that a Perth student who allegedly stabbed her teacher has briefly appeared in court, accused of plotting with another teenager to kill the woman. The 14-year-old girl was allegedly handed a knife by her 13-year-old friend before entering Willetton Senior High School about 11am Monday and stabbing her teacher, a woman aged in her 50s. A WA Police spokeswoman alleged the two students had plotted to kill the year 8 co-ordinator during numerous online conversations with one another in the two weeks preceding the attack. Both students have been charged with attempting to unlawfully kill. Magistrate Andree Horrigan has insisted both students undergo a mental health assessment. State School Teachers’ Union of WA president Pat Byrne said the incident was a reminder of the dangers teachers faced and the need for constant improvements on safety in schools.

Plea to find children's burial sites at New Norcia, where the town cemetery contains unmarked graves

ABC News reports that in recent years, the Benedictine monks of New Norcia, 130 kilometres north of Perth, have been rocked by shocking allegations of historical child sexual abuse by a number of their predecessors involved in running the town's schools for Aboriginal children. Now fresh questions are emerging about what became of "the kids that never came back" and where they are buried. It is estimated more than 2,000 Indigenous children passed through the New Norcia mission schools from the 1860s until the early 1970s. Ballardong-Noongar woman Dallas Phillips, who attended St Joseph's girls' institution, is urging the community's leaders to identify who is buried in a number of unmarked graves in the town's cemetery. Ms Phillips believes they could be the graves of children and wants the monks to release what records they have. Jim Morrison of the West Australian Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation said there are other possible gravesites in the town that need to be looked into, perhaps using similar technology to that used to uncover the remains of children at Indigenous schools in Canada.

Tasmanian Government pays out more than $29 million under National Redress Scheme over two years

The Islander reports that the Tasmanian Government paid out more than $29 million to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in 2020 and 2021. According to the Justice Department's most recent annual report, $14 million in payments were made under the National Redress Scheme in 2020 and $15.1 million in 2021. The Government in 2019 committed $70 million in funding to the Justice Department over 10 years to cover redress payments and costs associated with administration of the redress scheme. The Justice Department reported that, of the claims made to the scheme, 97 per cent were responded to within the statutory time frame. A claim to the scheme is capped at $150,000 for an individual.

INTERNATIONAL

How did Republicans turn critical race theory into a winning electoral issue? (United States of America)

According to an article in The Guardian, Glenn Youngkin won the race to be Virginia’s governor having exploited concerns over teaching about race in schools. The author asserts that Republicans whipped up a moral panic that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is being rammed down the throats of schoolchildren, caricaturing it as teaching black children to internalise victimhood and white children to self-identify as oppressors. At a recent campaign event, the candidate said to applause: “What we won’t do is teach our children to view everything through the lens of race. On day one, I will ban critical race theory.” This can be seen as a rightwing backlash to last year’s Black Lives Matter protests and conversations about structural racism that followed the police murder of George Floyd, an African American man in Minneapolis. Officials in Republican-controlled states across America are proposing numerous laws to ban teachers from emphasising the role of systemic racism. Legislation aiming to curb how teachers talk about race has been considered by at least 15 states, according to research by Education Week.

How schools don’t prepare young people for the future (International)

According to an article in the World Education Blog, five agencies of the United Nations recently confirmed that, despite some progress around the world, most countries are failing to provide children and young people with quality and sustainable sexuality education. This news is a reminder of the urgent need for life-changing and potentially life-saving education, said the UNESCO Assistant-Director General for Education, Stefania Giannini. Among girls aged 15-19, there are 10 million early and unintended pregnancies a year, three million unsafe abortions, and maternal conditions are the top cause of death. Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) can prevent this and help young people make more deliberate, respectful and well-informed decisions about their health, sexuality and relationships. The authors assert that increased access for students, training for teachers, engagement with young people, and monitoring of CSE delivery is crucial to ensure its effectiveness.