A commitment from the Queensland Government to halve the number of suspensions and exclusions of students with disability within 5 years.

All students have a right to learn. The Queensland Government has a responsibility to investigate this issue through a Parliamentary Inquiry, and invest in solutions that keep all students, regardless of their background, in the classroom.  

Funding for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to improve academic, social-emotional and behavioural outcomes for all students, as recommended by the South Australian inquiry into school suspensions.

This includes funding for wrap around services with restorative and trauma-informed practices. Greater funding must go towards dedicated school staff whose role is to work with students at risk of multiple suspensions. These staff include, but are not limited to:

• Additional teacher aide roles

• Education Queensland Inclusion Officers

• NDIS navigators to ensure students with disability are on the NDIS, and if they have access to the NDIS that they are using their plans effectively to get their needs met. This is not about the NDIS being used in schools, but to ensure that when disabled students step outside the gate, they have appropriate access to supports like therapy and services to enhance their learning and build capacity, which will then result in better outcomes in school.

• Mental health professionals to support disabled students, their families and the school to get on the same page about what the student with disability needs to succeed.

• Occupational therapists to immediately ensure every student with disability has the adjustments they need to succeed in their learning environment.

All schools must ensure this work is culturally appropriate and promotes respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.

Develop an inclusion scorecard for Queensland State Schools that has official status, is transparent and independently assessed.

Establish an independent board to oversee the implementation of the above targeted measures to reduce school suspensions and exclusions for at-risk students, including students with disability, First Nations students and students in out of home care.