Wednesday, 4 February 2026

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (19:22): (1508) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education. The action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the Victorian Labor government’s ongoing investments to deliver the Education State across Pascoe Vale, including for Pascoe Vale South Primary School. Bounded by Reynard Street, Coonans Road, Parkstone Avenue and CityLink, the school has long been situated in the heart of the Pascoe Vale South community since its official opening on 2 February 1954, with 196 students. Over those 70-plus years Pascoe Vale South Primary has continued to do a magnificent job in educating generations of those local young students – an ever-increasing, welcoming, inclusive and vibrant learning environment. Today home to 41 teachers and 310-plus students and growing, Pascoe Vale South strives to facilitate an inclusive and empowering learning environment which fosters confident, creative, caring, curious and collaborative learners who dare to be excellent via their core values of respect, caring, learning and enjoyment.

That is why I have been proud to be a member of a Victorian Labor government that has continued to invest and support the wonderful Pascoe Vale South Primary community since 2015 via our previous $5.1 million investments to deliver a new learning centre with a new school hall, flexible learning spaces, support spaces, playgrounds, six high-quality and flexible teaching spaces, classrooms, an art room, areas for staff resources and withdrawal, a new foyer for the school administration building and the landscape entrance on Reynard Street and the previous funding by the Rudd–Gillard federal Labor government to deliver the school’s library, building and classroom, which I was delighted to assist and advocate for way back 16 years ago when I was the electorate officer for then federal member Kelvin Thomson.

It is also why I have continued to work closely with the school since becoming the member for Pascoe Vale by welcoming Premier Allan and education minister Carroll on 26 March 2025 to meet the school community and to attend their annual Shore Reserve Showdown fundraiser against my old primary school Coburg West Primary. We have secured and delivered the first ever 40-kilometre school speed zone along Coonans Road. We are supporting students through their circular economy and recycling efforts through the container deposit scheme. We have previously helped unveil the school’s magnificent artwork along the Transurban CityLink noise barriers down the back of the school, celebrated the school’s 70th birthday on 24 October and attended the school’s inaugural Arts Carnevale twilight market in 2025 and supported a range of their events. I attended the school graduation and awarded my endeavour award to Isla Bush for her dedication, hard work and perseverance in overcoming challenges. I would like to commend the school community: Carmel Lancuba, the principal; Liz Carey, school council president; Mrs Cummings, disability inclusion leader; school captains Rosa, Massimo, Seng and Jack; and all the school’s teachers, staff, students and families.

Of course, notwithstanding that work, there remains more to do. As per the parliamentary petition I presented to the house on 31 October 2024 bearing 1517 signatures, the school community continues to call for funding and upgrades towards (1) the school’s 70-year-old administration building and (2) the delivery of a new covered outdoor learning area, a COLA. Upgrading the administration building would provide for allied health and specialist support with a safe, comfortable space to work one-to-one with students to meet their wellbeing needs. The COLA of course would address and offer students increased shade and weather protection throughout the year for a range of different activities, but of course it is outside the school gate. We continue to support the school with the free prep bags, cheaper uniforms and free dental Smile Squad as well.