Skip to main content
Log in

Inclusive education in Australia ten years after Salamanca

  • Published:
European Journal of Psychology of Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While many states and territories in Australia were initially a little slow to develop a strong momentum towards inclusive educational practices, this has been addressed quite dramatically in the past ten years. Acknowledging that each jurisdiction in Australia has its own department of education and determines its own educational directions this paper will focus on broad developments across all jurisdictions in order to provide an overall analysis of how inclusive education has evolved. This discussion paper will focus on systemic changes since the Salamanca Statement (UNESCO, 1994), involving the education of students with diverse learning needs. A review of Australian research identifies the implications for specialist peripatetic support staff, the personal beliefs and values of teachers and the need for more structured pre- and in-service training for teachers to enable them to meet the educational, social and emotional needs of all children engaged in inclusive experiences.

Résumé

Au début, plusieurs états et territoires d’ Australie avaient quelque peu de retard pour ce qu ’il y a de progrès envers l’éducation inclusive, mais les années récentes ont vu une amélioration rapide. Même si le système fédéral fait que chaque unité politique établira ses propres priorités, cet article fera le point sur les développements généralisés dans tous les états et territoires. Par ce biais, il sera possible d’établir une analyse globale de l’évolution de l’éducation inclusive australienne. Cet article se limitera aux changements systémiques, depuis la déclaration de Salamanca (UNESCO, 1994), qui portent sur l’éducation des enfants aux besoins éducatifs divers. Une étude rétrospective de recherche australienne identifie les implications pour le personnel de soutien spécialisé péripatétique, les croyances et les valeurs des enseignant(e)s et le besoin d’un entraînement plus structuré, autant après qu ’avant le début du service régulier. Cet entraînement permettra aux enseignant(e)s de remplir les besoins éducatifs, sociaux et émotionnels de tous les enfants impliqués dans des expériences inclusives.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ainscow, M. (2002). Using research to encourage the development of inclusive practices. In M. Ainscow & P. Farrell (Eds.),Making special education inclusive (pp. 25–37). London: David Fulton Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ainscow, M., Howes, A., & Tweddle, D. (2006). Moving practice forward at the district level. In M. Ainscow & M. West (Eds.),Improving urban schools: Leadership & collaboration (pp. 70–80). England: Open University Press, McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, R.J., Elkins, J., Berry, P.B., & Burge, J.A. (1979).A survey of special education in Australia. Queensland: University of Queensland, Fred and Eleanor Schonell Educational Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beazley, K. (1984).Education in Western Australia [Report of the committee of inquiry into education in Western Australia]. Perth, Australia: Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cambourne, B. (2002). Trying to change pre-service teacher education: Nibbling around the edges vs. going the hog. Roundtable paper presented at theATEA Conference, Brisbane, Australia.

  • Campbell, J., Gilmore, L., & Cuskelly, m. (2003). Changing student teacher’s attitudes towards disability and inclusion.Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(4), 369–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrington, S. (1999). Inclusion needs a different school culture.International Journal of Inclusive Education, 3 (3), 257–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrington, S., & Robinson, S. (2004). A case study of inclusive school development: A journey of learning.The International Journal of Inclusive Education, 8(2), 141–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, A., Forlin, C., & Jobling, A. (2003). The impact of teacher training in special education on the attitudes of Australian preservice general educators towards people with disabilities.Teacher Education Quarterly, 30, 65–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Center, Y., & Ward, J. (1987). Teachers’ attitudes towards the integration of disabled children into regular schools.The Exceptional Child, 34, 41–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • César, M., & Oliveira, I. (2005). The curriculum as a tool for inclusive participation: Students’ voices in a case study in a Portuguese multicultural school.European Journal of Psychology of Education, XX(1), 29–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth of Australia (2005).National report to parliament on indigenous education and training, 2003 Canberra: Department of Education, Science & Training.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth Government (1992).Disability discrimination act 1992. Canberra: Australia: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Lemos, M.M. (1994).Schooling for students with disabilities. Canberra: Australian Government Publication Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey, I., & Foreman, P. (1997). Trends in the educational placement of students with disabilities in NSW.International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 44, 207–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Education, Employment and Training Victoria (2001).Better services, better outcomes in Victorian government schools: A review of educational services for students with special educational needs. Victoria: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Education and Training Western Australia (2004).Pathways to the future: A report of the review of educational services for students with disabilities in government schools. Perth: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desai, I. (1991). Victorian school principals’ attitudes toward integration. Paper presented atthe 15th National Conference of the Australian Association of Special Education, Brisbane, Queensland.

  • Disability Standards for Education (Draft) (November, 2004). Australian Government: Canberra. Retrieved 31.1.2005, http://www.ag.gov.au/DSfE.

  • Donnelly, K. (2004).Why our schools are failing. Sydney: Duffy & Snellgrove.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, A., Pugach, M.A., & Otis-Wilborn, A. (2001). Preparing general educators to work well with students who have disabilities: What’s reasonable at the pre-service level?Learning Disability Quarterly, 24, 275–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forlin, C. (2001). The role of the support teacher in Australia.The European Journal of Special Needs Education, 16, 121–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forlin, C. (2004). Promoting inclusivity in Western Australian Schools.International Journal of Inclusive Education, 8, 183–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forlin, C. (2005). Sustaining inclusive practices in primary school communities. In C. Newell (Ed.),Disability in education: Context, curriculum and culture (pp. 13–21). Australia: Australian College of Educators.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forlin, C., & Bamford, G. (2005). Sustaining an inclusive approach to schooling in a middle school location.Australasian Journal of Special Education, 29(2), 172–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forlin, C., Douglas, G., & Hattie, J. (1996). Inclusive practices: How accepting are teachers?International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 43, 119–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hick, P. (2005). Supporting the development of more inclusive practices using the index for inclusion.Educational Psychology in Practice, 21(2), 117–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karmel, P. (1973).Schools in Australia: Report of the interim committee of the Australian Schools Commission Canberra: Australian Government Printers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keane, G., & Shaughnessy, M.F. (2002). An interview with Robert J. Sternberg about educational psychology: The current state of the art.Educational Psychology Review, 14(3), 313–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozulin, A. (2004). Vygotsky’s theory in the classroom: Introduction.European Journal of Psychology of Education.XIX(1), 3–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loreman, T., Deppeler, J., & Harvey, D. (2005).Inclusive education: A practical guide to supporting diversity in the classroom. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, W., Rohl, M., Gore, J., Greaves, D., Mcintosh, A., Wright, R., Siemon, D., & House, H. (2005).Prepared to teach: An investigation into the preparation of teachers to teach literacy and numeracy. Canberra: Department of Education, Science & Training.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luke, A. (2004). Education from Australia to Asia: A conversation with Allan Luke.Professional Educator, 3(1), 14–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKay, G. (2002). The disappearance of disability? Thoughts on a changing culture.British Journal of Special Education, 29(4), 159–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, L. (2001).The Meyer report. Victoria: Department of Education, Employment and Training.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milton, M., & Forlin, C. (2003). Supporting students with learning difficulties in a secondary school.Special Education Perspectives, 12, 31–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministerial Advisory Council on the quality of teaching (1997).Raising the standards of teachers and teaching. Sydney NSW: School education policy directorate, Department of Education & Training.

    Google Scholar 

  • National inquiry into rural and remote education (2000, May). Commonwealth of Australia: Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission.

  • O’Donoghue, T.A., & Chalmers, R. (2000). How teachers manage their work in inclusive classrooms.Teaching and Teacher Education, 16, 889–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, S., Johnstone, C., & Ferguson, P. (2005). A disability rights in education model for evaluating inclusive education.International Journal of Inclusive Education, 9(2), 139–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadovnik, A.R. (2001). Profiles of famous educators: Basil Bernstein (1924–2000).Prospects: the quarterly review of comparative education, XXXI(4), 607–620.

    Google Scholar 

  • Senate Employment, Education and Training Reference Committee (2002).Inquiry into the education of students with disabilities. Canberra: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Save the Children (2003).Inclusive education is a right of all children. Dhaka, Bangladesh: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slee, R. (1996). Inclusive schooling in Australia? Not yet!Cambridge Journal of Education, 26(1), 19–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tasmanian Department of Education. (2004).Essential learnings for all: Report of the review of services for students with special and/or additional educational needs. Tasmania: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trang, T. (2004). Psychology in a culturally diverse society.Australian Psychologist, 39(2), 103–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO (1994).The Salamanca statement and framework for action on special needs education. Adopted by the world conference on special needs education: Access and equity. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, T. (2002).Inquiry into the provision of public education in NSW. Sydney: NSW Teachers Federation & Federation of P & C Associations of NSW.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Forlin, C. Inclusive education in Australia ten years after Salamanca. Eur J Psychol Educ 21, 265 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173415

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03173415

Key words

Navigation