Thursday, 9 March 2023

Ministers statements: schools funding

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Education, Minister for Women) (14:17): I rise to update the house on the amazing investments the Andrews government is making to equip Victorian students with the critical STEM skills that they need now and into the future. This investment is really coming to life across our schools. We are delivering STEM subjects in new and exciting ways and kids are so engaged and so taking them up in place.

We are building new state-of-the-art STEM facilities to host these subjects through our record investment in school infrastructure. Recently I visited Dandenong High School with the member for Dandenong to officially open the long-awaited STEM centre. The students there were already excelling in STEM and will continue to do that, getting ready to take part in the H2 Grand Prix in the middle of this year in Queensland. I have been tipped that they are a high chance to make it to the international finals at the end of the year.

It was also great to join the member for Oakleigh at John Monash Science School to see firsthand the terraforming Mars program, the interstellar component using new and exciting simulation software. Maybe, just maybe, those absolutely amazing, very talented students there might, whilst exploring Mars from here on earth, be able to uncover the mysteries underlying the alien approach by the opposition to their question time tactics. It is possible.

On top of our investments in STEM, since 2014 we have opened 10 cutting-edge tech schools across this state, and we are getting on with delivering another six. I am looking forward to working with the member for Eltham in her role as Parliamentary Secretary for Education in order to help make these initiatives come to life. The delivering of these brand new tech schools will mean over 220,000 kids get access to tech.