Tuesday, 20 September 2022

 Ms HUTCHINS (Sydenham—Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:19): I rise to update the house on this government’s commitment to supporting Victorian students, both in primary and secondary school. Last week I was with the member for Essendon at Strathmore Secondary College to announce the extension of the tutor learning initiative for 2023—$253 million worth of investment to continue this fantastic program, which has currently provided services to around 2000 participating schools. Almost over 100 000 students in government schools have received one-on-one support that they need to continue to thrive in our school system.

It was also great to meet with the students at Yuille Park Community College with the member for Wendouree to talk about the important life skills they have learned through the Respectful Relationships program. Schools across Victoria have been teaching a broad curriculum that is in line with the Australian curriculum, one that includes everything we need to know, including reading, writing, numeracy and history—both medieval and Australian. We have room for cyber safety as well. One school I know that is delivering on these programs is the beautiful little school called Regency Park Primary, which I visited with the member for Bayswater. I saw all these programs in action there. This means that students educated by our great teachers will learn everything they need to know to excel in life. I want to assure the house that our government will not strip back the curriculum. We will not close schools. We will not cut funding to the education system. This government is doing what matters because we trust our teachers, unlike those opposite, and we believe in our students’ future.