Wednesday, 2 April 2025

St Kilda Primary School

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (18:26): (1565) My adjournment this evening is to the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is to provide funding for a replacement hall for St Kilda Primary School. The primary school used to have a hall, but the state government demolished it during capital works and failed to provide a replacement. Since then the school has lacked an indoor space for PE, assemblies and events, and the wider community has missed out on a venue for meetings, music, art and other activities. The school and its community have an active campaign for a replacement hall. I recently went along to a community rally at the school, at which many members were in attendance. There was a crowd of students, parents and community members, and former school parent Hughesy emceed the event. Lots of support was given from commuters as they drove past, much to the excitement of the kids. As placards on fences all across the community clearly say, the state government removed the St Kilda Primary School hall and has not fulfilled its promise to rebuild.

According to the state government’s facility area schedules, St Kilda Primary is entitled to a gym based on enrolment numbers. St Kilda Primary School is one of the largest in the area without an indoor facility. With 52 per cent of kids enrolled this year living in apartments or townhouses, access to any recreational space is really constrained. The local area has just eight public open spaces, covering only 5 per cent of the land, far below the municipal average of 17 per cent open space, and these outdoor areas are unusable in bad weather, leaving these primary schoolkids without a place to be active year round. As one parent says:

Without an indoor space it’s a struggle to provide consistent PE lessons, especially during bad weather. This means students often miss out on vital physical activity, which is essential for their health and development. An indoor facility would make a world of difference.

The school’s vision is to create a multipurpose hall that enhances our children’s education and provides a central venue for local residents of all ages and abilities. Minister, enough broken promises. I ask that you fund and deliver an indoor and community hall for St Kilda Primary School.