Wednesday, 21 June 2023

Docklands Primary School

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (18:01): (307) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Education in the other place, the Honourable Natalie Hutchins. Recently I had the privilege of visiting District Docklands with Susan, Mary and Rakhi from Docklands Primary School council to deliver the exciting news that works on a new campus are underway, starting soon. This campus will offer Docklands Primary School students seven – let me say that again: seven – new classrooms as well as an incredible internal play space with a small sports court, climbing walls and a room for free play, my goodness, which I have been told the kids are especially excited about. I cannot tell you the excitement that will be building when we hear that they will also have the ice-skating rink not too far from the classroom. So how good is that.

Since then I have been absolutely inundated with messages from members of the school community sharing their appreciation and excitement for this much-anticipated upgrade, which is set to finish in time for term 3. I cannot wait to join the school community at their assembly on Friday to formally celebrate this achievement and to highlight what an incredible addition this new campus will be to the Docklands area. The teachers and families of Docklands Primary have been tirelessly campaigning for a new campus, and I for one am proud to have been able to deliver on their hard work with this upgrade, announced in recent times. Having access to high-quality school facilities close to home is so important to creating a vibrant, integrated local community and ensuring that our next generation can develop the life skills they need to be the best that they can be. I am proud to note that Docklands Primary School is the latest to join the more than 1850 Victorian schools that have been upgraded by the Andrews Labor government since 2014, creating jobs and giving even more Victorian kids access to great local education.

My question to the Minister for Education, Minister Hutchins, is to ask if she could kindly update me on how Docklands Primary School and their new campus will benefit students, teachers and families of the Northern Metropolitan Region.