Thursday, 14 November 2024

 Ros SPENCE (Kalkallo – Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Community Sport, Minister for Carers and Volunteers) (10:02): I am very pleased that this government continues our commitment to building fantastic learning spaces to support the bright futures of our young people in Kalkallo. In rapidly growing Mickleham, the Darul Ulum Academy has recently received $3 million from the Building Fund for Non-Government Schools to go towards stage 2 of that school, which will include a three-storey middle school building and technology centre. The new stage brings 15 classrooms, a science lab, a library, art and technology rooms, open learning and study spaces, tutorial rooms and staff offices. This funding will ensure the school can grow as the community around it grows and as its wonderful students progress to later years. I was out at Darul Ulum last week with the Parliamentary Secretary for Education Nina Taylor to officially open stage 1 of the Mickleham campus, to which the Allan Labor government has contributed $3.5 million, and I thank the parliamentary secretary for joining me for that opening. These very well considered learning spaces will inspire the students creatively, academically and spiritually.

We have a fantastic school community in Kalkallo, and we are producing intelligent and capable young leaders, some of whom I have had the pleasure of working with and mentoring over the past nine years through my Youth Advisory Council. A fine example of the bright young people we have in Kalkallo are the 2025 leaders of Hume Anglican Grammar. I offer my congratulations to new school captains Manraj Dhanoa and Sarah Jaza and vice-captains Kenuka Wijesuriya and Athena Abraham. These students were selected for their outstanding leadership qualities. I wish them the best of luck in their new roles and look forward to seeing them progress.