Tuesday, 15 October 2024

Ministers statements: education

Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research) (14:42): Students, teachers and families are all back for term 4, and so is the Leader of the Opposition. While those opposite have been focused on themselves, we have been focused on families and talking to families. While they are dreaming of revolutions, we are dreaming of how to make our state fairer and more prosperous for every student. That is why during the school holiday period we were talking to all our peak bodies, from Parents Victoria to the Victorian Council of Social Service, about the school saving bonus, and they made it very clear that they want cost-of-living support. They made it very clear that they want to make sure they get support for textbooks and for camps and do everything they can. That is why the Allan Labor government is working very hard to make sure that business managers and parents have the most seamless process for applying for the school saving bonus.

But it does not stop there. We know how hard it is to concentrate. Whether you are in the classroom or even if you are in the courtroom, you need to have a full stomach. That is why we are rolling out the breakfast program to every one of our 82 specialist schools. Under the Allan Labor government we are upgrading every single specialist school in this state. When you talk about fairness it does not get more important than upgrading and supporting our specialist schools. They will benefit from the school saving bonus as well as the free breakfast program. We also know, given the importance of concentrating if you have got vision impairment, there is the Glasses for Kids program. That is why we have tripled funding under the Allan Labor government for the Glasses for Kids program.

We are getting on and supporting every student right across our state. We are not talking about HECS for high schools. We are talking about school saving bonuses. We are talking about cost-of-living support, the free breakfast program, the free glasses program and Respectful Relationships. More recently, the Premier has been leading on Safe Socials to make sure social media is discussed in the family home as well as at school. We will continue to build the Education State under Premier Allan.