FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kingsdene Parent Group Media Release
23 November, 2009
Convoy to Canberra – It’s about our children’s today and the immediate
tomorrow
Students with severe disabilities from Kingsdene Special School in Sydney
and their parents will travel by convoy to Canberra on Monday to appeal to the
Rudd government to save their small charity-operated school from imminent
closure.
“We are going to Canberra and asking the Rudd government to act right now to
protect the today and tomorrow of the students at Kingsdene Special School because
if it closes, there is no other school to support the complex learning needs of these
students. There is literally nowhere for our children to go” says Bernadette Moloney
from the Kingsdene Parent Group.
Kingsdene Special School is a weekly boarding school for severely and profoundly
intellectually disabled students.
“Its extended learning program is what makes it so successful. To insist on applying
a generic funding formula to this unique model of education for these most vulnerable
children is just ludicrous.” continues Ms Moloney
“Spokespeople from Ms Gillard’s office do not deny that Kingsdene students are not
funded at the same level as similarly disabled students in a government school. The
fact is our children are funded at only a small fraction of that actual cost and what’s
fair about that? said Vanessa Browne another parent from Kingsdene School.
“Kingsdene brings diversity across education models and sectors for students with
severe and profound disabilities. Kingsdene students gain skills and knowledge in a
program unparalleled in the country with brilliant outcomes, transparency and
accountability” continues Ms Browne
“All our kids need is a chance to be the best they can be. Is it too much to ask our
government to step in and do the right thing here?” said Bernadette Moloney.
“By saving Kingsdene the Rudd government can nail its colours to the mast in
education reform, inject some humanity into the education revolution funding model
and move the focus of spending from buildings to students. All students irrespective
of their ability should be given the best chance to maximise whatever potential they
have. Saving Kingsdene would give the federal government legitimacy in claiming
the moral ground unclaimed by every government for the past forty years.
Media Contact:
Bernadette Moloney 0409 200 660 and Vanessa Browne 0403 752 111
NEWS 
