Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Ministers statements: education system

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (14:39): I rise to update the house on how the Allan Labor government’s commitment to evidence-informed reform in the education –

Members interjecting.

Ben CARROLL: Your behaviour has been exemplary, member for Bulleen. He has got the blue tie back. He is clean-shaven – third time lucky. As soon as I get on my feet, in comes the salmon again.

Before I go any further, can I send my very best wishes to all the students sitting their general achievement test today. Can I give a special mention to the member for Wendouree’s daughter Johanna Addison, who is doing year 11 at Loreto and doing her GAT, and we wish her all the very best. Please pass that on from the minister.

We are harnessing world’s best practice in the Education State. We are supporting teachers and leaders with clear direction, impactful strategies, tools and resources to foster deep engagement in the classroom, because we want our classrooms to be where every student is challenged, supported and inspired to reach their full potential. That is why we are putting in place evidence-based, informed policies to ensure that students are motivated and that they have agency and connection – all those contributors to effective and engaging learning in the classroom. It is no accident that we are the Education State. We are going to make sure we make precious use of those million minutes that every student has with us from K to 12. That is why we lead the nation with important reforms, whether it be the mobile phone ban in schools, our secondary pathway reforms, our Respectful Relationships reforms or putting in place explicit instruction and the science of learning in every classroom. But we are not stopping. We want to ensure our students feel safe in the classroom. That is why we have doubled our investment for the schoolwide positive behaviour program. That is why I recently announced new powers for principals to suspend or expel students when they need to do so, because we know that every student deserves to feel safe at school in every classroom across our state.