Wednesday, 13 May 2026

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (17:23): (1668) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to consider, support and invest in the proposals put forward by a number of my local school communities to continue improving learning infrastructure, facilities and resources across the Pascoe Vale electorate. Since 2014 the Victorian Labor government has continued to invest and modernise virtually all of our local schools, including in the most recent 2026 state budget, which allocated $6.189 million towards upgrading Merri-bek Primary School.

However, there of course remains more to do, beginning with Pascoe Vale South Primary, Pascoe Vale North Primary and Coburg Primary. Since 2015 we have invested $5.1 million towards modernising Pascoe Vale South Primary School, but again, notwithstanding this good work, there remains more to do to support the growing Pascoe Vale South Primary School community as enrolments grow.

The petition I presented back in October 2024 bears 1517 signatures and calls for two priorities. One is upgrading the school’s 70-year-old administration building, and secondly, delivering a new covered outdoor learning area, the COLA. The current 1954 admin building continues to present significant operational accessibility and wellbeing challenges. Leadership and administration staff, I am told, work in shared offices daily, making confidentiality and effective practice extremely challenging. Students are unable to access key spaces such as the sick bay and wellbeing room due to steps and the poor layout of the old building. Ageing infrastructure and the presence of asbestos presents ongoing occupational health and safety concerns. The business manager manages sensitive HR matters as well in shared spaces. The staff room cannot fully accommodate the 43 staff, limiting opportunities for connection and collaboration. The sick bay is out of sight and rarely used, with unwell students instead managed in the office, limiting the ability to isolate illness and meet child safety standards.

The mental health and wellbeing leaders space is inaccessible, small and unsuitable, resulting in sessions often being held in shared areas and other parts of the staffroom. Students with mobility needs must take indirect routes through the car park to access the support, and temperature extremes across the building impact staff wellbeing and usability of the space, so upgrading the administration staff health and wellbeing building is essential for Pascoe Vale South Primary School, which the Premier and Minister for Education have previously visited and also inspected. The addition of a covered COLA would also offer students increased shade and weather protection throughout the year as the school does not have a full-scale gymnasium. This space would be highly valuable for a range of student activities, including whole-school assemblies. While the school is situated in extensive outdoor grounds of approximately 2 hectares, with its buildings surrounded by a large playground area and ample spaces for active and passive play, the reality is that less than 10 per cent of the school’s footprint consists of permanent shaded areas. That means much of the school’s planned outdoor activity – assemblies and learning, physical and recreational activities – is largely weather dependent, and whether it is extreme heat or heavy rain, the absence of a COLA, outdoor covered area, continues to impact the school’s learning and wellbeing opportunities.

When it comes to Pascoe Vale North Primary School, ongoing opportunities are also warranted. Now home to 350 students and 40 staff, I welcome the school’s development of a new concept master plan as well, which has three master plan options. Stage 1 is the need for a covered outdoor learning area as well, and I commend the school community – Deborah Crane, Bala Lange, Pete Van Buuren, Simeng Tan and Catherine Duniam, the school council advocates – on this project.