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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 581 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 June 2020 by Hon Donna Faragher

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — SCHOOLS — CAMP GUIDELINES

581. Hon DONNA FARAGHER to the Minister for Education and Training:

I refer to the phase 3 operating guidelines for WA public schools and the announcement that camps will now be permitted for up to 100 people.

(1) Will the minister table a copy of the additional guidelines relating to camps that have been developed?

(2) Is the minister aware of ongoing concerns that the current guidelines do not adequately take into account that recreation camps are short-term accommodation, not boarding schools or residential colleges, and therefore most recreation camps cannot open despite the 100 people limit; and, if so, what is the minister's response to those concerns?

(3) What is the current information available to the government on the status and likely completion date of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee's review of its advice in regard to the risk management for boarding schools and residential colleges?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for speaking to me about this beforehand so that I can table what she wanted me to table.

(1) Yes, I table the phase 3 school camp guidelines.

[See paper 3942.]

(2) Yes, we recognise that these restrictions continue to present challenges for recreation camp providers, as they do for many others across the state. We know it is tough. We want schools to return to their normal activities as soon as possible, but we need to follow the expert public health advice. The advice from the Chief Health Officer in WA is that camps may proceed, but they should adhere to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee guidelines for residential colleges. The phase 3 operating guidelines for schools outline that camps can recommence, however, should not exceed 100 people. Schools should follow departmental excursion policies and AHPPC advice to develop mitigations that lower the risk of transmission. Schools must also ensure camp providers comply with WA COVID-19 health guidelines. All school activities will be reviewed again in preparation for phase 4 of the COVID-19 road map.

(3) I asked the Chief Health Officer to request AHPPC review the requirements for boarding facilities to make any further changes. From the beginning, AHPPC has provided advice that boarding schools and residential colleges provide a higher level of risk than schools, so the rules have had to be different. AHPPC is currently reviewing its advice. I have had preliminary discussions with the WA Chief Health Officer and while the final advice from AHPPC is pending, I have seen a draft. Based on those discussions, we anticipate we will be able to implement the advice to suit Western Australia's context. I have spoken with independent and Catholic education sectors as well. The school camp guidelines will be updated as soon as we receive the revised AHPPC advice.