JOINT RELEASE – COBB AND COULTON UNITED IN SUPPORT FOR ISOLATED CHILDREN’S PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
17-March-2010
Nationals Members of Parliament John Cobb and Mark Coulton have united behind the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) during the organisation’s annual conference being held today in Balranald.
The conference will hear from the parents of students currently enrolled in the Dalwood Assessment Centre in Sydney, which provides an education to children with severe learning disorders living in rural and regional areas, and is scheduled to close this year.
“These parents have shown amazing resilience in a difficult circumstance and remain in an uncertain situation with the State and Federal Labor Governments both unwilling to take control of the situation,” Mr Cobb said.
“Dalwood School provides opportunities for special needs children, many from rural and regional areas, and the Labor government is effectively taking those opportunities away.”
“All this from the party that boasts about its $17 Billion Education Revolution.”
Mr Coulton joined the calls by many parents from within his electorate for greater support and the continuation of services.
“Families from Walgett to Wellington utilise this invaluable service,” Mr Coulton said.
“Barely a week goes by where I do not hear from a principal or a P&C president about the wasted money and resources the Rudd Government is pouring down the drain with its Building the Education Revolution, yet the government continues to show a callous indifference to keeping open one of the most important education institutions available to country families.”
“I support those families who spoke out today at ICPA and guarantee them their voices are not falling on deaf ears.”
“Dalwood is a unique facility and is a lifeline for families throughout regional NSW with a child with special needs. Its closure will have an immense impact on many families in the Parkes and Calare electorate now and for many years to come.”
The future of the school remains uncertain with many regional parents, who have spent years on waiting lists for the school, now sent back to square one.
Mr Coulton and Mr Cobb will continue to pursue the issue at a Federal level whilst working with their State Nationals colleagues to promote the issue in Macquarie Street.