Thursday, 18 May 2023

Western Victoria Region schools

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (09:58): I rise today in Education Week to celebrate some fantastic events in my electorate marking 151 years of public education in this state. Foremost is the near completion of the new state-of-the-art facilities at the Terang College P–12 in Strong Street, Terang. Once finished, Hampden Specialist School P–4 and Terang College P–4 will join Terang College 5–12 on one site in an education hub. This $12 million investment to relocate two junior campuses is an especially proud achievement. Hampden is part of a very significant program of upgrading all of the specialist schools in Western Victoria, including Warrnambool’s Merri River School, Portland Bay School and Colac Specialist School.

This year’s Education Week theme focuses on physical activity, hands-on learning and student voice in education. Camperdown College, Mortlake P–12, Derrinallum College and Cobden Technical School are just some of the schools using this week to highlight curriculum initiatives, co-curricular programs and activities that make schools inclusive and able to cater for all abilities. As Minister for Agriculture, I am particularly interested in Cobden tech school’s Cows Create Careers program, which engages and educates young people about the dairy industry. A special shout-out too to Cobden tech’s Narelle Holliday, whose excellent work in promoting and delivering applied learning across the Western Victoria Region was recognised with the 2022 VACC Chair’s Award for outstanding achievement.