Tasmania will cut the Safe Schools program after Federal Government funding expires.
It comes after the New South Wales Government also revealed it was working on a replacement for the program.
Federal funding for the anti-bullying and education initiative expires at the end of June.
Currently 22 public schools in Tasmania are part of Safe Schools, along with 18 NSW public schools.
The two states are replacing Safe Schools with their own anti-bullying programs.
Tasmanian Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff told Education Review his government will invest $3 million over four years into a replacement scheme called Combat Bullying.
“It is up to each Tasmanian school to make their own decisions about the programs used in their school, and government schools are encouraged to use the Department of Education’s own program,” Rockliff said.
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes also told the publication an as-yet unnamed replacement program will receive funding in the state budget after 30 June 2017.
Stokes said this program will be ready by Term 3 of the NSW school year.
A spokesperson for the Safe Schools Coalition Australia told Education Review, “SSCA remains committed to ensuring that all LGBTI young people, no matter where they live, can learn in a safe and inclusive environment, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
“We will continue to build the capacity of teachers through professional development in 2017.”
The Safe Schools program was reviewed in March 2016 in a government-commissioned inquiry that found some of Safe Schools’ lessons were inappropriate for primary school children.
Following the review, Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham announced that Safe Schools would be limited to high schools.
