Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Fawkner schools funding

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (19:23): (6375) My adjournment request is to the Minister for Education. The action I seek is more funding for schools in Fawkner. Under the Bracks-Brumby governments the state district of Broadmeadows received funding as part of the landmark school regeneration project. Hume Central Secondary College became a light-on-the-hill school in Broadmeadows. This is what I want to achieve for Fawkner, which was outside the state district of Broadmeadows at that time.

Fawkner is one of the most disadvantaged areas of Victoria, and John Fawkner College is anticipating that its social and economic circumstances will be reflected in the state government’s needs-based funding. Fawkner is home to a growing multicultural community where lifelong learning for skills and jobs is vital. John Fawkner College is also a significant government school with a committed leadership team. John Fawkner College received $50 000 to create a master plan for the school in the 2020–21 state budget, as the Andrews government continues to build the Education State. Recent investments in Fawkner include $7.8 million for Fawkner Primary School and the rollout of the School Shade Sails Fund at John Fawkner College.

Other local investments in the state budget 2022–23 include more than $17 million for Broadmeadows Special Developmental School, $8.52 million for Hume Valley School, almost $500 000 for Belle Vue Park Primary School and another almost $500 000 for Roxburgh College. An extra $895 000 in funding will be provided to continue a program to engage students in the Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement’s Project REAL, which provides a flexible learning option for local students with significant behavioural complexity. All investments deliver high value and better opportunities in life where they are needed most and are gratefully appreciated by the people of the state district of Broadmeadows.