Thousands of Western Australian school-children with disabilities will benefit from a $1.2 million boost to therapy services.
Disability Services Minister Eric Ripper said today the funds would be allocated to extend the availability of speech, physio and occupational therapy for children.
Mr Ripper made the announcement at the Cloverdale Primary School, just one of the Government schools which involved therapists working with about 3,500 pupils with disabilities across the State.
The boost, which was part of the $180 million Social Advantage package, would mean a total of 30 extra physio, occupational and speech therapists, working in Western Australian schools and suburban health centres.
"This represents more than a 20 per cent increase in therapy services for schools," Mr Ripper said.
"The therapists will broaden services available to children with disabilities while they are at school and will also provide in-service training for teachers."
Two-thirds of the extra resources will be provided in the metropolitan area, the rest for country regions, and $300,000 will be allocated for ten extra speech therapists working from Health Centres in outer suburbs such as Wanneroo, Rockingham and Armadale.
"This expansion is in line with the Government's early intervention and prevention philosophy which focuses on helping children in the important developmental years," Mr Ripper said.
The Minister said the therapy expansion was part of the total $1.7 million allocated in the Social Advantage to help Western Australians with disabilities.
Other initiatives included more individual and family support and expanded travel concessions.
