Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Heatherwood School

Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (19:09): (385) My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister of Education, and my request to him is to issue a clear time line for the repairs at Heatherwood School. I quote:

My 16-year-old son is in fear of using the toilets. They are located far from the classroom and if he goes during class time there is no teacher available to supervise. He has been locked in the portable toilets on several occasions by bullies. The trauma of the noises, the smells is all too much for him. My other son holds on and when he comes home he is busting to use the toilet. He sits on a bus for 90 minutes on the way home from school. His confidence has been knocked and he is constantly worrying about the toilet situation. He tells me how much they scare him.

This is the heartbreaking true account from a parent at Heatherwood School. Heatherwood School has long been a place of hope – a place where children with special needs find the support and education they need to reach their full potential. It is a school that embodies the very essence of inclusive education, a fundamental value that Victorians hold dear. But tragically this beacon of hope has been overshadowed by dire circumstances that threaten the wellbeing and educational experiences of its students. The day of the Warrandyte by-election there was a devastating fire that exacerbated the situation at Heatherwood School. This has left the entire school operating with just a handful of temporary portaloos. I have even heard of students that have cerebral palsy being unable to physically open the portaloos and there being no accommodations made to help them. Despite there being money committed to fixing Heatherwood, teachers, parents and students have no idea when this horrible situation will come to an end.

I raise this in the Parliament today because I have no other choice. Although I wrote to the former Minister for Education in late August, I am yet to hear anything from her or the department as to what is happening. We stand at a crossroads facing a moral imperative. As a community that prides itself on being the Education State, we must uphold the values of equitable access to education for all, regardless of abilities or postcode. Our commitment to this principle is not merely symbolic. It is our responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable among us receive the support they need to thrive in their educational environment.