BY NATALIE GALLENTI
DESPERATE families have given mixed reviews after the State Government last week finally announced a P-12 autism school would be built in Laverton.
Education Minister Martin Dixon said the proposed stand-alone school would be located alongside the Laverton P-12 College and less than one kilometre from the Western Autistic P-3 school.
“Identifying the eventual location of the new school will provide the community with a sense of certainty and will allow long-term planning to commence,” Mr Dixon said.
Mr Dixon, who last week released the final report of the P-12 Autism Spectrum Disorder Education Provision Review Proposed Options Paper, acknowledged the growing need for autistic education provision in Melbourne’s West.
“Western Melbourne is the only metropolitan region that doesn’t have a stand-alone P-12 autism school.
“Once completed, the school will bring autism education in Melbourne’s West nto line with other metropolitan areas.”
However anxious Brimbank parents have questioned the decision to locate the school in Laverton and have also called for the Government to offer a definite timeline.
President of Autism Angels Dina Tamburro said she was disappointed with the announcement.
“I’m gutted. We’ve been waiting so long and now they’ve announced it in Laverton of all places,” Ms Tamburro said.
The Taylors Hill resident said she, and many other parents, had hoped for a school in Brimbank and Melton and were left bewildered by the Government’s announcement.
“They have really let Brimbank and Melton residents down.
“They seem to build these kind of schools in remote areas. I still feel like they are trying to isolate our kids.”
Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins said while she welcomed the school, she was amazed to hear the intended location.
Ms Hutchins said a report released by the Baillieu Government in August this year revealed 75 per cent of children with autism lived in Brimbank, Melton or Wyndham.
St Albans resident Annette Allan welcomed the announcement.
Ms Allan, whose son Corey has Asperger’s, said she would be forced to put her son in a mainstream school when he turns nine if there is no P-12 school available.
“I don’t like the thought of putting him into mainstream school,” she said.
Member for Western Metropolitan Region Bernie Finn said the Government was fully committed to building the school and said parents can now relax over Christmas knowing they will have a school for their children.
Mr Finn said $4 million was committed to the construction of a school and he would be pushing for the further $10 million required to be allocated in the next budget.
