Wednesday, 29 October 2025

 Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (18:42): (2054) My adjournment this evening is for the Minister for Education. The action I seek is for the minister to fund the master plan for a public high school in Kilmore. Kilmore is a thriving, growing town in my electorate of Northern Victoria, with a current population of 12,269 residents and predictions of a population of over 24,910 by 2046. It seems inconceivable that there is no local public high school in the town. Because of this projected growth, the Mitchell Shire Council listed a public high school in Kilmore as a priority project before the 2022 state election and have again, unanimously, listed it as a priority for the 2026 state election.

Students are currently forced to attend either Broadford or Wallan, both nearing capacity, or Assumption College, the private school, whose fees are out of reach for many families. There are reports of students spending up to two hours travelling to and from Broadford and Wallan. Often these buses are overcrowded, with students being left behind at stops, leaving them stranded. The burdensome travel times directly affect mental health, family time, after-school work and participation in local sport or community activities.

Some parents opt to homeschool their adolescents due to the limited options available in Kilmore. Some families are even looking to relocate so they have easier access to schooling. A local public high school would give students in Kilmore equal access to education and opportunity right where they live. The action I seek is for the minister to fund the master plan for a public high school in Kilmore.