Parents of a child with autism have defended a healthcare program criticised for leaving teachers and learning assistants in charge of complex medical procedures in special schools.
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Melinda and Grant McFadden, from Curtin, said their lives and that of thier son Dominic, 7, had been changed for the better thanks to the introduction of the program at their son's mainstream primary school last year.
Mr McFadden said the Healthcare Access At School program, which operates with learning support assistants (LSAs) aided by nurses available on the phone, had ensured more reliable medical support, which meant Dominic missed fewer school days and could more easily mix with other students when he was there.
"Previously, a healthcare worker in class could only look after Dom's healthcare needs, now we've removed that one person, but the people who are there can not only assist him if something does happen – and perform lifesaving measures – but also have the capacity to do their job as a learning support assistant and help many children," he said.
"It normalises his schooling experience," Mrs McFadden said.
An ACT Health spokesman said about half the 25 students enrolled in the program attended the nine mainstream public schools involved, while the other half attended either the Black Mountain or The Woden School special schools. Pilot programs began in both types of schools in 2013, he said.
Pressure from parents and the teachers' and nurses' unions earlier this month led Education Minister Joy Burch to reinstate nurses on-site at the two special schools from the start of term two, and ACT Health was to review the program.
Australian Education Union ACT secretary Glenn Fowler said he was not aware of any complaints from the learning support assistants in mainstream schools about the levels of medical care they had to provide.
"As a general rule we don't believe educators should be delivering health outcomes, but there may be circumstances where it is appropriate," Mr Fowler said.
An ACT Health spokesman said HAAS funding directly provided for the wages and salaries of the registered nurses, but the Education and Training Directorate had also increased funding and staffing in schools to allow more children with disabilities to attend.
Mrs McFadden said it was important that LSAs helping children like her son, who has a tracheostomy and requires constant supervision to ensure his airway remains clear, were paid extra for their added duties. She said the program was worth preserving.
"It's portable, it's individualised and in some cases it can even promote independence."
An Education Directorate spokesman said there had been no changes in remuneration for LSAs performing duties under the HAAS program, as medical support, where required, was a core function in the workers' existing duty statement.
