Tuesday, 7 June 2022

Broadmeadows electorate education funding

Mr McGUIRE (Broadmeadows) (19:07): (6399) My adjournment request is to the Minister for Education. The action I seek is an update on how the state government is supporting students with additional needs in Broadmeadows. The government’s Australian-first $1.6 billion disability inclusion reform has started rolling out in classrooms across Victoria, putting the needs of individual students at the heart of our response and shifting the focus towards what a child can achieve rather than what they cannot. I want to acknowledge this landmark initiative in collaboration with Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott and applaud what he has done through his inspiring leadership and through his success, and I look forward to his tenure as Australian of the Year. This initiative is done with the Get Skilled Access program, and the design and delivery are about abilities awareness in schools to promote how students and staff can be part of this landmark program.

The Andrews government continues to build a more inclusive state for young Victorians with additional needs. Recent local investments include more than $17 million for the Broadmeadows Special Developmental School in the 2022–23 state budget and $10 million for the Jacana School for Autism in the 2020–21 state budget. I want to acknowledge that investment and its significance in changing lives. The Andrews government will also deliver $60 million for the new Broadmeadows Health and Community Centre of Excellence. This is the first stage in revitalising Kangan Institute’s campus in Broadmeadows. The centre of excellence will deliver courses in high-priority industries, including disability, nursing, allied health and healthcare education services to help drive economic recovery and social development post COVID-19. This investment is vital for securing local jobs for local people where they are needed most and contributes to the whole proposition of lifelong learning to give the best opportunities in life and to allow as many people as we can to deny that miser fate.