Dr. Carol Coulter:

In regard to the view that there are too many services and services duplicating one another, the CFA is now attempting to rationalise many of the services. What we have seen among people coming before the courts is that they have not received the kind of targeted and appropriate support they need in a timely fashion. The importance of matching people to the services they need requires more attention, in particular if people are suffering from a cognitive disability. It often only comes to light when they become the parents of children because in school a mild intellectual disability does not trigger any supports. It does not trigger any supports for adults who suffer from cognitive disability. Parenting is not easy for anybody. The child might have special needs but even if he or she does not, the demands of parenting might mean that some kinds of supports are required. However, it can be very difficult to access them. Unless the child has a diagnosis of what is called a moderate intellectual disability, which I would always regard as quite severe, it is very difficult to access the kinds of supports and interventions necessary. I am not sure about there being too many services and about the duplication of services. I believe the CFA is examining that but I have certainly seen a lack of appropriate, targeted and timely supports for the people who need them. Without them, they end up in what is a much more expensive and difficult situation. I refer to the need for out-of-home care, which is very expensive, not to mention very traumatic for everybody involved.

I agree with the Deputy's remarks about teachers who deserve great credit for being the first port of call for many children. Very often circumstances will have been quite bad for quite some time.