Tuesday, 2 August 2022

 Mr McGHIE (Melton) (13:27): Congratulations, Deputy Speaker. Kurunjang Secondary College has been awarded the inaugural Hands on Learning community projects award. The college received this exceptional acknowledgement at the Hands on Learning conference last month. From 130 Hands on Learning partner schools covering most of Australia, Kurunjang Secondary College has been honoured with this outstanding achievement.

The Hands on Learning program works to facilitate practical, hands-on learning opportunities in schools. The program focuses on building a sense of wellbeing and involvement by introducing opportunities for students to find their personal strengths, gain experience and succeed. The program covers many partner schools and regional networks. The Andrews Labor government has funded this program at the school for five years. Only three Hands on Learning partner schools were offered special recognition. Kurunjang Secondary College was honoured with receiving the very first Sowinski Community Projects Award. This is exclusively offered to schools that supply and issue students with the best Hands on Learning program in Australia, with an emphasis on providing community projects that assist the community. They have been awarded with this tremendous honour, a reflection of the devotion of the students to give back to their community and offer their assistance to their local area.

I want to congratulate the principal of Kurunjang Secondary, John Mitsinikos, and the Hands on Learning staff, Rebecca Morritt and Rohan Butler. I give special recognition and congratulations to the hardworking, persistent and dedicated Hands on Learning students. I want to acknowledge and thank Sarah McPartland, my work experience student from Melton Christian College, for writing this statement.