The Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations and the Tasmanian Education Union have both identified an increase in support staff as something the education sector sorely needs.

TASSO president Lisa Gillard said she hoped to see pre-election commitments for support officers fully funded in the budget.

“We keep being told that we are getting extra people but we’d really like to see these positions funded and filled,” she said.

Ms Gillard said she wanted to see more funds flow to increase the number of support staff, such as school psychologists, social workers, teachers aides and school nurses.

“The funds should lead to an increase in student contact time,” she said.

Ms Gillard said in addition to disability support workers, TASSO had been lobbying for a parent engagement officer and hoped to see that in the budget.

She also said she hoped to see more money flow into the college system, to assist them with delivering subjects “at the year 11 and 12 end”.

Australian Education Union Tasmania president Helen Richardson said more disability funding was needed to address the growing number of students with high and complex needs in state schools.

“Tasmanian students urgently need additional professional support staff such as social workers, school psychologists and speech and language therapist in schools,” she said.

“Increasing numbers of students with high and complex needs are entering our schools, and there’s a critical shortage of professional support staff to meet their needs.

“The state government’s review into moving from IQ-based funding to a ‘needs based’ funding model, will require additional resources to ensure all students with disability can access a high-quality education.”

The AEU also outlined an increase in admin staff as critical for the education sector.

The 2018-19 state budget will be handed down by Treasurer Peter Gutwein on June 14 in Hobart.