Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

'Our mission is not to teach someone but to allow them to learn.' This is the mission statement of Dyslexia Australia and adequately sums up the intention of this very worthwhile, good and meritorious motion which has been moved by my friend the member for Dawson, whose advocacy in this area is to be congratulated. He recognises through this motion that dyslexia is a learning disability and does not have a cure.

According to a 2010 report given to the then Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, between five and 10 per cent of Australians are diagnosed with a learning disability such as dyslexia. As such, I commend this motion. I commend the member for Dawson and the motion's intention that this parliament address the critical need for teachers who are better trained to allow students with dyslexia to learn and have improved outcomes.

When a person has dyslexia, words jumble. They move around. They swirl. The basic skills of reading and writing, which most people take for granted, are incredibly challenging for people with dyslexia. As more research becomes available about how students and people with dyslexia are impacted and what some strategies might be to deal with them, it is important that schools and governments adapt with that research to make this task easier. In order to achieve this, we must recognise what dyslexia is and, through the research, come to understand what profound impacts it might have on students and people who are diagnosed with it. While we will never fully appreciate the difficulty of reading and writing. Solutions and recommendations through research can make this challenge easier. As the rates of dyslexia increase and our understanding of it also grows, as a society we can come to recognise what some of the symptoms of dyslexia are, which is the intention of the motion of the member for Dawson.

In addition to the difficulty of reading and writing, people with dyslexia often find hearing and speech challenging. They may also have difficulty with mathematics and time management. Added to this, people with dyslexia may find memory and cognition challenging and may also have behavioural difficulties. As such, it is critical that we as a society understand what the symptoms of dyslexia are so we can gain a greater insight into how best we can help people who are diagnosed with it. Obviously, schooling and education is where people with dyslexia first experience the challenges and difficulties of reading and writing. It is vital for the sake of the people this has an impact upon that teachers are better equipped, as Dyslexia Australia's mission attests, 'to allow them to learn'.

I refer here to the comments of the shadow minister for education. In his role as the shadow minister he firmly believes that there is no shame in having a learning disability. The only shame is if it is not recognised and treated to an individual's need. I would certainly agree with him, as I am sure all members of this House would agree with him. He is calling for the use of modified curricula and instruction in education, appropriate assistance technology and extra time for learning as students with disabilities go through school. It is crucial, he says, for children who suffer from a learning disability to receive the appropriate diagnosis, treatment and support in their school. He is currently working with the Specific Learning Difficulties Association in his state of South Australia to raise awareness of this by asking this parliament to formally recognise dyslexia as a disability and to provide funding to ensure the students with dyslexia receive high-quality intervention as soon as the diagnosis has been confirmed. That, along with this particular motion, will really be a great enabler for young people with dyslexia. If they receive help early, it can improve their educational outcomes and, indeed, their job prospects considerably.

It is not to discredit the passion and dedication of our teachers to say that we need to help them learn and that schools need to play an even greater role in helping to improve outcomes of children with dyslexia. It takes a special kind of person to be a teacher. We know that these days our teachers are much more than just educators; they are counsellors, nurses, advisers and people who inspire the next generation of the nation. They give this country a great service. My daughter, Georgina, is a teacher at Griffith High School. I know of the profound impact that she and so many others have on students. I know that students with dyslexia certainly need every bit of help that they can receive. (Time expired)

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