Wednesday, 1 November 2023

 Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (19:16): (418) My adjournment matter is for the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit Upwey High School and Upwey Primary School to learn about their priorities and to see firsthand our record investment in education across the Dandenong Ranges.

There is a reason why we call Victoria the Education State. In my community alone we are currently upgrading The Patch Primary School, St John the Baptist Primary School and Emerald Secondary College, with Monbulk College, Monbulk Primary and Upwey High School already completed. In just those six schools there is over $97 million in major upgrades. There have also been capital injections in schools like Upwey Primary School, Calista Primary School, Ferny Creek Primary School and Upwey South Primary School, among many more. Yes, I have many, many schools. Since 2016 Upwey High School has seen funding in excess of $38 million to be completely transformed. With a new basketball stadium, a brand new art, science and technology building and the refurbishment of the administration area it really is unrecognisable. Its neighbour, Upwey Primary School, received funding in the Inclusive Schools Fund to deliver an inclusive outdoor learning space which was just recently completed, and they are thrilled.

A good teacher can take a class under a tree, but students – like all of us – respond to their environments. As a former teacher I know that our students thrive when they have the best teachers delivering their classes in excellent facilities. I am proud to be part of a Labor government that is investing record amounts in those facilities right across this state of Victoria as we build 100 new schools by 2026. I thank the minister, and I look forward to his visit to both of these schools to meet with school leadership and students and tour these facilities.