Thursday, 23 March 2023

Inclusive schools

John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (16:06): (140) My adjournment is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on funding to special schools. More than 100,000 students have a disability in independent schools. These numbers have grown over the past decade and continue to grow. Our government is committed to giving these students the same opportunities as everybody else.

Research shows that inclusive schools provide substantial benefits, and that is why the 2022–23 budget allocates $326 million to upgrade 36 special schools with world-class classrooms and learning facilities. It means that all special schools will have received an upgrade since our election in 2014. And it gets better: $247.3 million for essential maintenance, another $10 million for accessible building programs to make it easier for access and $1.6 billion – that is billion – for world-leading reforms for disability inclusion. It will mean students with a disability are supported in government schools to excel.

To achieve this we will invest in the skills needed for teachers to help identify students’ strengths and needs so the educational adjustments to schools can be made. These investments will increase access to specialist expertise coaching, professional learning, evidence-based guidance, resources and scholarships for school staff. It is brilliant to see that disability inclusion is being introduced over five years, starting from term 4, 2021, and we are already in year 3 of the rollout. These investments are key to schools in my community of southern metropolitan Melbourne in Glen Eira, in Kingston, in Port Phillip and in Stonnington. Schools in these councils are already delivering disability inclusion plans, and I congratulate them.

This week I was grateful to visit Andale School and speak with principal Justin Walsh, staff and students. Andale is an illustration of a special school, giving students with special needs the same opportunities as other students. The school is inclusive, collaborative and nurturing for primary school students experiencing language and learning difficulties. Mr Walsh is proud of his students and staff, and rightly so. The teaching that happens at this school and the opportunities this offers the students are of great importance. As we heard in the kindy motion, a dollar invested in education returns $2 over the life of a child.

I was inspired by the children who are unable to attend a mainstream school yet found a home at Andale, and they are thriving. It is clear to me that Andale School offers something more than what mainstream school can offer, opening opportunities for all students to excel. It is a really small school with a big heart. I am proud to see what the school does for special students within the area, and I am proud to be part of a government that values all Victorian students. I look forward to receiving an update from the Minister for Education on funding for these vital schools.