Thursday, 15 August 2024

 Steve McGHIE (Melton) (10:16): I also had the pleasure of sitting down with school leaders and students to discuss various areas, including how we can best assist the schools of Melton. State Schools’ Relief was one topic that continued to come up in these conversations and how essential it is for many Melton families. All of the schools I met with emphasised that without access to State Schools’ Relief, more than half their students would be without uniforms and essential school supplies. Since 2015 the Labor government has provided more than $42 million to State Schools’ Relief for Victorian students, and in the 2024–25 state budget an additional $32 million was provided for the continuation of the affordable school uniforms program. Without these vital contributions to State Schools’ Relief many students would lack essential uniforms and school supplies.