Tuesday, 25 August 2026

 Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (22:02): (2718) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Education. Our Labor government knows that investing in education is the absolute best way to set our community up for success. No matter their background or where they grow up, every child deserves a world-class local education and the chance to get ahead. That is why we have worked so hard to build over 100 brand new schools right across Victoria, making sure local families have modern classrooms close to home. It is also why we stepped in to protect and expand free TAFE, so people can train for the great, rewarding jobs of the future. That same commitment to our community is why the opening of the new Hume Tech School at Kangan Institute’s Broadmeadows campus is such welcome news. This new facility gives more than 20,000 local students access to hands-on, high-tech STEM learning right in our own backyard. We know that so many of the jobs of tomorrow are going to be in science, technology, engineering and maths. Instead of just reading about things in a textbook, students will be able to get practical learning with robotics, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing. On top of that, the government is making sure that free transport is available so students can travel to and from the tech school without cost being a barrier for local families. This is all part of our $116 million investment into STEM learning right across Victoria and will give our kids the best possible start. Families and students across the north are really excited about the new opportunities that places like these bring. The action that I seek on behalf of aspiring students of the Northern Metropolitan Region is for the minister to provide information on what free courses are available to local students at the new Hume Tech School.