Government employs more nurses, police and education assistants

14/9/06
A total of 190 education assistants for students with special needs were employed by the Carpenter Government from March to June 2006, new figures show.
The latest update of public sector staffing levels also reveals the Government employed 114 nurses and medical staff, plus extra police, trainee fire fighters and transit guards.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management Eric Ripper said the figures showed the State Government was employing more people in priority front line service areas.
"We are hiring more police and nurses, while at the same time boosting the number of education assistants to ensure all students have access to top quality education," Mr Ripper said.
"Of the overall increase in Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) from March to June 2006, 72 per cent was for agencies providing direct community support services."
The quarterly update shows the number of FTEs in the Western Australian public sector increased from 100,830 to 101,920 from March to June 2006.
This includes:

• Department of Health - 114 additional employees comprising nurses and other medical staff, with another 67 clerical and support staff freeing-up nurses to deal with the real business of caring for patients.

• Department of Education and Training - 190 FTEs, comprising new education assistants for children with special needs. More than 70 FTEs in the form of casual lecturers at TAFE colleges.

• Western Australian Police - 90 FTEs that comprised a mix of sworn police officers and public servants. These additional public servants have enabled trained police officers to return to policing the streets of our communities where they can tackle crime head on.

• Department of Corrective Services - Following on from the Government's implementation of the recommendations of the Mahoney inquiry and an increased focus on corrections, an additional 46 FTEs have been engaged as prison officers and in community corrections and juvenile justice roles.

• Public Transport Authority - An additional 53 FTEs, including transit guards, drivers and trainees, in line with the Government's commitment to improve public transport services.

• Fire and Emergency Services Authority - An extra 23 trainee fire fighters as the Government meets increased demand from the population growth being experienced in Perth and regional areas.