Thursday, 16 November 2023

Ministers statements: inclusive education

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:36): Helping families and particularly children to get the best start in life is a big priority for our government. We have created the position of Minister for Children, and I want today to particularly focus on families that have a child or children with a disability. These families can often feel like they are navigating a system that is challenging, that is too hard, and they can sometimes feel like – as they are facing those challenges, fighting for their kids, fighting for a better outcome – they can miss out on the joy of seeing their kids simply being kids. We know that there is more that we can do to provide support, and as local members I know that many of us work with children with a disability on getting the best education outcomes. That is why we are delivering a $203 million package that will transform special schools, particularly in making sure that special schools get access to outside school hours care. This is a transformative program.

The member for Kalkallo and I, with the Deputy Premier, were at a special school in the Kalkallo electorate recently, where we announced that a further 15 schools are being added to the program. It is a program that was piloted at schools like Kalianna School and Bendigo Special Developmental School, and it has been a big success. That is why we are extending it to a further 15 schools, alongside a billion-dollar investment in special school infrastructure, upgrading every special school across the state. We are upgrading Springvale Park Special Developmental School and Monash Special Developmental School, both of which are in the community of Mulgrave. I know because I have been out there with our candidate for the forthcoming by-election Eden Foster. She will continue, if she has the opportunity, to fight for these kids in this place.