I was contact by a journalist from the Herald Sun and asked for my views on the increasing number of private school applications for Special Exam Arrangements. The trend suggests that independent schools are submitting more applications than state schools.  My view is that if the student is eligible, they should apply.

From the article:

School Psychology Services founder Deborah Jepsen said parents and students were increasingly aware they could apply for special benefits.

“There’s less stigma attached to mental health these days. People are more likely to say, ‘I have got anxiety, I do suffer panic attacks during exams, so let’s get some extra help’”, Ms Jepsen said.

She said it was important that help was granted in valid cases, because some problems could be debilitating. But she said it appeared some private and Catholic schools where more”in the know” and if state schools students and parents were more aware then “there would be a lot more applications”.

You can read the full article below.