Thursday, 7 April 2022

Northern School for Autism

Ms HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (17:04): (6329) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education regarding the senior campus of the Northern School for Autism in Lalor. The action I seek is for the minister to strongly consider funding the rebuilding of the Northern School for Autism, or NSA, senior campus. The NSA is situated on the site of the Peter Lalor Vocational College along with the Lalor and District Men’s Shed and U3A. The Andrews Labor government in the 2020 state budget allocated $8.2 million to create a master plan for the site and start its redevelopment. The building of classrooms for the Peter Lalor Vocational College itself has commenced, and students soon will move into brand new fit-for-purpose classrooms.

The school community is very anxious to see funding for the next stage, which will include the rebuilding of the senior NSA to provide all the facilities that modern schools now have as part of the Labor government’s record investments in schools and education, because our children deserve the best. NSA parents and students have high expectations, and so they should, having the experience of the earlier middle years campus in Reservoir that was rebuilt by the Labor government and includes therapy rooms, music rooms, STEAM buildings and incredible play and outdoor areas.

Parents and the school community have started a petition calling for the funding for the rebuild of the NSA senior campus. I will be tabling this petition in Parliament in the next sitting week, and over 679 people have already signed. The school is so important, and the work it does is profound. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the school president, Teresa Pilone, and the expertise and commitment of principal Pamela Mathieson.