Tuesday, 17 March 2020

Ainslie Parklands Primary School

Mr HODGETT (Croydon) (19:18): (2057) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit Ainslie Parklands Primary School in Croydon and meet with principal Brett MacKenzie and me to view the newly constructed classrooms and discuss the school’s big plans for the future.

As the minister would be aware, Ainslie Parklands is adjacent to Ainslie Park, and positioned directly across the park is the brand-new Melba College in my electorate of Croydon—again, the minister would be familiar with the rebuild and redevelopment of Melba College. This is becoming the education and sports epicentre of Croydon, and it would be advantageous for the minister to visit the school and to see firsthand the potential future of this site. Ainslie Parklands has a student population of around 180 students—I was there recently, and I think it might be a bit less than that, but around 180 students—with the capacity to teach 400 students across their four multi-age studios. Ainslie Parklands Primary School has a strong emphasis on play-based learning from foundation to year 2, leading to inquiry-based learning in years 3 to 6. The students have access to flexible, open-plan learning spaces as well as a multitude of outdoor learning opportunities. Ainslie Parklands Primary School also has a strong relationship with the neighbouring Melba College, with students visiting the campus to use facilities and work closely with secondary staff and students.

The German program offered at Ainslie Parklands Primary School is staffed by teachers from Melba College’s German program, offering further continuity between the schools. Ainslie Parklands Primary School has a strong parent community who are actively involved in their children’s learning in the school. The community also has a wonderful diversity, which is a strength that they acknowledge and celebrate, with many families travelling some distance to make the primary school their school of choice.

A major redevelopment is underway at Ainslie Park pavilion following a $500 000 commitment from the federal government—from the member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar—which will provide local sporting clubs with the facilities they need to attract players and new talent to the area. The redevelopment of Ainslie Park pavilion and the rebuild of Melba College have paved the way to make this pocket of Croydon a terrific sports and education precinct that will attract a great amount of attention to the local area and be a great drawcard for enticing people to the region. In addition to all of this, Kilsyth Basketball has constructed additional basketball courts on a parcel of land at the front of Melba College. These are all very exciting projects the minister would be familiar with.

Once again, I invite the Minister for Education to meet with Brett MacKenzie, the principal, and me to discuss the bright future of Ainslie Parklands Primary School and how it links in with the entire area, which will be a showpiece of education and sport for many years to come.