Emeritus Professor Anthony Shaddock is drawing on experts on autism and children's behaviour from around the country to help with his inquiry into the way Canberra's schools handle challenging behaviour and disabilities.
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Prof Shaddock has also called submissions for his inquiry by the end of July, and promises public meetings, one-on-one meetings, sessions with school students, and input from children with autism and challenging behaviour, speaking to them either one on one or in small groups "to find out how school could be better for them".
"Very often students bring an understanding to these issues that's so different to the way that grown ups do and very helpful," he said.
Prof Shaddock was appointed by Education Minister Joy Burch to review Canberra schools' handling of children with challenging behaviour after a cage was discovered in a Canberra classroom to be used as a "withdrawal space" for a boy with autism. That incident is being investigated separately, but Prof Shaddock heads a panel looking at the wider issue of how children are managed, including the use of withdrawal spaces.
"I do believe it's sort of strange to prepare students for an inclusive life by keeping them separate," he said. "There's obviously good reasons to do that for some children for extensive periods, but always the focus should be on preparing students for an inclusive life."
He had engaged a group of "critical friends" to advise his panel and review its work. They are Professor Roger Slee, of Melbourne, an expert on inclusive education who has published on behaviour management; Prof Jacqui Roberts, from Griffith University, whom Prof Shaddock described as Australia's foremost expert on autism; Dr Tim Moore from the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University; Prof Alan Hayes, director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies; and Dr Diana Boswell, a Canberra expert in autism and challenging children.
He is looking at the law, schools' policies, innovative programs in other parts of the country, and policies in Canberra's public and private schools, and is about to send a survey to all teachers.
He wants submissions from parents, carers, students, teachers and professionals, he said.
"Our job at the moment is to listen and learn that that's what we'll do," he said.
Also on his panel is paediatrician Dr Sue Packer and Children and Young People Commissioner Mr Alasdair Roy. Submissions will not be released.
