Tuesday, 14 October 2025

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:05): I rise today to warmly welcome back all of our amazing school students across Victoria as term 4 gets underway. A special shout-out to our year 12 students: good luck as you prepare for your exams. You have got this, and we are all cheering you on. Over the break I had the pleasure of visiting Tinternvale Primary School, where I met the principal Joanne Wood. Joanne and her team are already hard at work, making sure every student has the support they need to thrive. Just before the break Tinternvale hosted their inquiry showcase, which was an incredible display of creativity and learning from their students. Let us not forget the excitement of the grades 3 and 4 park camps and the grades 5 and 6 city camps. These experiences are what make school life so special, and many students will benefit from the $400 vouchers from the Allan Labor government’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund. I also caught up with Chris Kent, the acting principal of Pembroke Primary School, to hear about the fantastic programs they are running, not just for students but for families too. They have been offering English language sessions to support our wonderfully diverse Mooroolbark community – how good is that? I have to admit I am a little jealous that I actually missed their recent footy day where students proudly wore their team colours, enjoying a free sausage sizzle. A big thankyou to the parents, teachers and volunteers who made that day such a success. This is what makes our community so strong, with great public schools that go above and beyond, families who pitch in and a government that backs them every step of the way. The Allan Labor government will always invest in the infrastructure and programs that our public schools need, because every child deserves the best start in life.