School’s therapy sting

THE mother of an autistic student has slammed the Ocean Grove Primary School’s blatant “money-making scheme” to charge psychologists, speech pathologists and other therapists conducting vital sessions at the school.

Tanya Hutson, the mother of seven-year-old Oliver, said the policy change meant therapists working with children would have to pay the school more than $100 a session.

“My child has a disability and the school is denying my child the help he needs. I just think this is a money making scheme,” Ms Hutson said.

Yesterday, Ocean Grove Primary School principal Scott McCumber said the school council would review the charge. “I understand and accept the charge was not in keeping with community expectations and we will immediately be reviewing it in consultation with the school council,” Mr McCumber said.

Ms Hutson said a psychologist funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme visited the school fortnightly for two years to observe and treat her son before the school introduced a charge.

She said the psychologist helped Oliver with strategies to socialise and make friends. “He really looks forward to meeting with her,” Ms Hutson said of the psychologist.

She said the policy change came into effect at the beginning of the school year.

“The school made this policy change and did not contact parents,” she said. “I’ve had to listen to (Oliver) crying and saying that he can’t make friends.

“All he does at lunch time is sit in the classroom and draw.”

Geelong-based Children’s Therapy Services practice manager Kerry Britt said the organisation, which provides sessions at Ocean Grove Primary School, had to assess if the additional costs would be absorbed by staff or passed on to those paying for the service. “It is not something we have experienced before,” she said. “We don’t want kids to be missing out.”

Ms Britt said the school had told the organisation about the change but had not yet provided documentation.

Mr McCumber said he had received community feedback about charges for use of school rooms for NDIS-funded therapy. “Our school is committed to inclusive education, supporting all students to fully participate, learn, develop and succeed with an inclusive school culture,” he said.