The Vienna city government announced in a press release on Wednesday that the introduction will take place gradually from November. In the final expansion, 17 multi-professional teams of four people each are planned at 52 compulsory school locations. There will be a hotline and two mobile multi-professional teams for the remaining schools.
The measure is intended to relieve the burden on students, teaching staff and parents in view of the increasing psychosocial stress on children and young people, explained Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and the Social Democratic staff representative for compulsory school teachers, Karin Medits-Steiner, in a joint broadcast.
Psychologist, social educator, social worker
The planned teams consist of clinical psychologists, social educators, social workers and, if necessary, occupational therapists. School groups with special support needs – consisting of three to four school locations – should be looked after. It was said that one person from these teams would be on site at each school in such a school group every day.
The expansion will take place gradually: from November onwards, the first teams will start in the districts of Vienna-Favoriten and Vienna-Margareten. “The rollout to other districts will begin in 2025, without any associated savings in previous support systems,” emphasized Ludwig. In the final expansion, around 15,000 students will be looked after by the permanent teams at the 52 compulsory school locations.
Hotline and mobile teams
There will be a dedicated hotline and two mobile teams for the remaining schools from November. The first of these will begin its service at the end of the year, the second in the first quarter of next year.