12 April 2022

Paediatricians and specialist physicians from The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) say that reports that 1 in 3 students who were expelled in the first year of the pandemic in Victoria had a disability shows the dire need for increased school supports.

The RACP’s Kids COVID Catch Up Campaign is calling on all political parties to commit to increasing school support for children with additional needs to help them recover from the setbacks of the pandemic.    

RACP President, Professor John Wilson says “The reports today that the rates of children with a disability being expelled are rising are devastating.

“This shows that we have a systemic lack of support for children with a disability in our schools.

“We cannot blame teachers or schools – this is clearly a wider problem and we need the Federal Government to improve school support and resources to better care for children with disabilities.

“It’s simply not good enough. That’s why the Kids COVID Catch Up campaign was established – to help our country come together and improve the lives and wellbeing of our young people.”

“Children with disability are at increased risk of experiencing health inequities and these gaps widen as children grow.

“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures and remote learning have been challenging for many children with disability and or learning difficulties, as well as their families and carers.

“We need to establish a national taskforce to address the major setbacks that all children and young people have faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and particularly for children and young people with a disability” Professor Wilson said.

The RACP’s Kids COVID Catch Up Campaign is also calling on all parties to commit to appointing a National Chief Paediatrician to provide clinical leadership on child health and wellbeing issues across Australia.

You can find out more about the campaign at: https://kidscatchup.org.au/

Authorised by Peter McIntyre, CEO, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW, 2000