Media Releases

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed the Victorian Coalition Government’s significant investment of $51.5 million dollars in funding for the backlog of school maintenance in Victoria.

“This funding has been provided to help address a decade of Labor neglect and will provide nine schools in the Lowan electorate with a total of $838,362 to attend to maintenance issues,” Mr Delahunty said.

“A complete picture of the state of our school buildings did not exist until the Victorian Coalition Government's comprehensive building audit was carried out last year,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Despite the billions spent on programs like Building the Education Revolution (BER), the audit revealed a massive $420 million maintenance backlog.

“Schools that have been identified as having facilities in a poor or worn condition will now be able to address those deficiencies resulting in all our government schools having higher standard infrastructure ensuring a quality educational environment for our teachers and students,” Mr Delahunty said.

The nine schools that have received funding from this allocation are –

Cavendish Primary School - $5,423
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College - $88,698
Horsham College - $229,798
Horsham Primary School - $279,134
Horsham West – Haven Primary School - $8,360
Laharum Primary School - $53,325
Merino Consolidated School - $18,734
Penshurst Primary School - $16,564
Rainbow Secondary College - $137,326

Education Minister, Martin Dixon, said the Government was committed to better building management in all 1,539 Government schools.

“The independent maintenance audit has given us a clear and consistent picture of school maintenance requirements so that funding is allocated to schools most in need of repair or rebuilding,” Mr Dixon said.

“Western Victoria has wonderful schools with talented teachers who provide quality education for our children.  This maintenance funding is very welcome,” said Mr Delahunty.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has announced the school crossing supervisor subsidy has been secured for all Local Government areas in the Lowan electorate.

“Funding for the School Crossing Supervisor Subsidy Scheme has increased from $9.7 million in 2012-13 to almost $10million next financial year,” Mr Delahunty said.

“This includes a funding increase to each Council to pay for additional costs associated with the scheme,” Mr Delahunty said.
“This will ensure the region’s supervisor can continue their important work.”
“Our priority is keeping Victorians safe,” Mr Delahunty said.
Mr Delahunty said to apply for the subsidy, councils are required to review the eligibility of all crossings each year in line with the guidelines and submit an application to VicRoads.
The guidelines ensure that the state’s road safety resources are being directed to the highest risk sites, where they are most needed
“The subsidy is provided as a bulk allocation and as council know the needs of the local community best, councils determine the number of supervisors to allocate and the locations,” Mr Delahunty said.
During the school terms, speed limits will be reduced to either 40km/h or 60km/h outside schools in the morning from 8am to 9.30am and in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 4pm.
The school speed zone limits are clearly signposted with permanent speed limit signs, advance warning signs, time based signs or electronic variable signs.
“School speed limits exist because young children are the most vulnerable of all road users. Children can be unpredictable and difficult to see and I urge drivers to take extra care around schools, and slow down.  A small reduction in speed can dramatically increase the chance of a child surviving if hit by a car,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said motorists need to take care and be patient on western Victorian roads over the Easter break and school holidays.

“Sixty people have died on Victorian roads so far this year and this has impacted heavily on their family and friends.  This is why we need to take care whilst travelling the coming Easter weekend and school holidays,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Easter long weekend is a great time to spend with family and friends and to enjoy the many activities happening throughout the Lowan electorate, but I ask all road users to be vigilant,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The school holidays are also a time for many families to travel and this means many more vehicles on our roads.” 

Mr Delahunty said motorists need to adhere to the speed limits when travelling throughout western Victoria.

“Drivers need to keep in mind that with extra traffic on local roads they must be patient and allow additional time for their travel, as well as sticking to the road rules,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Over the Easter weekend I urge travellers to take advantage of the “Driver Reviver” sites as well as the many rest areas along our highways, and I wish everyone a safe and happy Easter,” Mr Delahunty said.

More information on ‘Driver Reviver’ sites can be accessed online at www.ses.vic.gov.au/prepare/driver-reviver/places-to-stop

The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed the announcement that Baimbridge College, Goroke P-12 and Natimuk Primary School will get welfare officers for the first time.  

“This is part of a $124 million Coalition Government commitment to help support students and families address issues such as bullying,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Coalition Government has promised to recruit 150 Primary Welfare Officers (PWOs) by 2014 and I am delighted that Baimbridge College, Goroke P-12 and the Natimuk Primary School has received the officers,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The PWO’s will provide support to students experiencing issues which may be affecting their health, behaviour and wellbeing, as well as helping student engagement by promoting school attendance and developing positive school cultures.  The PWO’s will also work with the school community, parents and students, support staff and community agencies,” Mr Delahunty said.

Mr Delahunty said the Coalition Government took bullying seriously, and this program provided the support to schools to help combat it.

PWOs across Victorian schools have introduced innovative programs to engage students and parents, and have the flexibility to do what works in their school community depending on its needs.

“The program helps schools develop a positive culture and it is a great result for Baimbridge College, Goroke P-12 and Natimuk Primary School in providing extra support to help students stay in school and achieve their potential,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

The Victorian Coalition Government has again demonstrated its commitment to early childhood education, by allocating more than $40 million in capital grants.

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty, together with Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell, announced the Laharum Primary School was among 92 services statewide to receive grants.

The grant was available for upgrades to facilities or the development of integrated children’s services hubs, and is a combination of state and National Partnership funding.

The Coalition Government has allocated an additional $4 million to the original $36 million available in this grant round, to ensure that every application that met all of the criteria has been funded to the full amount applied for.

Mr Delahunty congratulated the Laharum Primary School which received a grant of $279,475 to renovate an existing school building allowing the relocation of Laharum Preschool from its current site. The upgrade will include both interior and exterior renovations.

“Our delivery of this funding will have a huge impact on children, not just now, but for many years to come,” Mr Delahunty said.

“We’re committed to educating Victoria’s youngest children and setting them up for a life of learning.

“The funding comes at a crucial time, as kindergartens across the state prepare to move to programs of 15 hours per week in the year before school as part of the Universal Access agreement,” Mr Delahunty said.

Ms Lovell said the government’s strong record on early childhood funding was a sign of its priorities.

“I’m proud to say that we’ve delivered record spending in early childhood, including more than $80 million in grants to services in our first 18 months,” Ms Lovell said.

“We recognise that 95 per cent of a child’s brain development happens by the age of five, and a good quality early childhood education will set them up for life.

“By getting it right in the early years, we can deliver better students to our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, and in the longer term, better applicants to the workforce.

“That can only be a positive outcome for children, families and our state,” Ms Lovell said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has called on young people aged 18 to 25 in western Victoria who have a passion for music to apply for the new FReeZA mentoring and skill development program.
Initiated by the Victorian Coalition Government and youth music organisation The Push, the mentoring program allows young people to receive mentoring and support to develop their skills in a nominated area of interest including performance; technical production; marketing and publicity; event management; or music business operations.
“This is an exciting opportunity for young people in western Victoria to be mentored by an artist, gain access to larger scale industry events, internships, links to employment and volunteering opportunities,” Mr Delahunty said.
“I encourage young musicians in Lowan to apply for the FReeZa Mentoring Program which will provide musicians between the ages of 18 and 25 with an opportunity to be mentored, one-on-one with an industry expert,” Mr Delahunty said.
The FReeZA Mentoring program includes mentoring and tailored Master Classes as well as skill development opportunities. Applicants are selected through an application process to meet and learn from established industry professionals and help to plan and run the Push Over Music Festival, a recording project, and participate in master classes.
This new program is an exciting addition to the $2.4 million annual FReeZA program that provides drug, alcohol and smoke free events for young people across the state.
“The FReeZA mentoring program is a fantastic opportunity for young people in western Victoria, who are passionate about music, to be creative, learn behind-the-scenes knowledge about the industry, gain practical skills and training and work alongside their idols,” Mr Delahunty said.
 Applications close on 20 November 2012 and for more information on how to apply visit www.thepush.com.au or www.freeza.vic.gov.au. The mentoring program commences in December this year and runs for six months.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has congratulated the Kaniva College on receiving a $20,000 Languages Start Up grant as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s plan to increase and revamp the teaching of languages in Victorian schools.

“The Languages Start-Up Grants totalling $1million will allow schools without an existing language program to introduce a language in 2013, and Kaniva College is one of 39 schools across the state to receive Languages Start-Up Grants of up to $30,000 under Round 1 of the program,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Languages Start-Up Grants are part of the Coalition Government’s plan to reform languages education and reverse the decline in languages teaching over the past decade.”

In 1999, Indonesian was the most widely taught language in Victorian government primary schools, with 406 primary schools offering Indonesian to more than 82,000 students. By 2010, these numbers had more than halved, with 39,049 primary students studying Indonesian in 195 schools.

Mr Delahunty said that as a result of the government’s focus on language education, we are now seeing signs of renewed interest from schools that now have the opportunity to offer languages in 2013.

The Coalition Government’s reform of languages education includes a commitment that all government school students from Prep to Year 10 will be learning a language by 2025, starting with Preps in 2015.

“Speaking another language helps students develop their first language, equips them with language and cultural skills and understanding and prepares them for a range of careers,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has commended the many schools throughout the Lowan Electorate who were taking part in the Victorian Coalition Government’s eSmart anti-bullying program.

Mr Delahunty said the initiative was designed to tackle cyber-bullying and to help create safer school environments where students are supportive of each other.

“I am pleased that so many schools in my electorate have registered to take part in this program as it shows that they are being proactive towards bullying,” Mr Delahunty said.

Schools taking part in the program include:

Horsham West-Haven Primary School  

Nhill College

Rainbow Secondary College    

Baimbridge College

Coleraine primary School    

Edenhope College

Hamilton (Gray Street) Primary School  

Horsham Primary School

Kaniva College     

Monivae College

Penshurst Primary School     

St Mary’s Primary School

St Michael and St John’s Primary School  

St Patrick’s Primary School

St Peter’s Lutheran School    

Willaura Primary School

Victorian Education Minister Martin Dixon said that “The huge interest from schools wanting to be a part of the eSmart initiative shows just how serious they are about stamping out bullying and creating safe places where students can learn and achieve together”.

“Through this program schools are raising awareness about online safety and reducing online risks including cyber-bullying, sexting and protecting their digital reputation.
Mr Delahunty said in 2009 he had a report prepared, by a Parliamentary Intern, about cyber-bullying and its effects on people through the use of technology, in an instant, it can be used anonymously, and can have a global audience.

“Cyber-bullying can be online harassment through the use of social networking sites, instant messaging programs, mobile phones and via video uploads and although physical harm does not always occur in cyber bullying, health effects can range from social withdrawal or exclusion, to academic decline and a rise in truancy, to depression and anxiety, and in serious cases self-harm or suicide.”

“Bulling can and does destroy lives, and the Coalition Government is committed to stamping out bullying in all forms,” Mr Delahunty said.

For more information on eSmart or how to register for the program, visit www.esmart.org.au

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty announced today that a number of schools in the Lowan electorate will receive funding for students to volunteer in the community thanks to the Victorian Coalition Government’s $4.5 million Advance program.

“In giving your time, talents and expertise as a volunteer you receive so much more – you gain new friends and build a stronger community,” Mr Delahunty said.  “It is great to see our young people taking up the mantle of volunteering as volunteers are vital for the health and well-being of our communities.”

Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith announced that more than 420 schools and 17,000 young people will be participating in the Advance program in 2012.

“Advance is a fantastic program that encourages young people to get involved in their local community and strengthens local partnerships between schools and local community organisations and services.

“The program also provides young people with practical opportunities for mentoring and gaining new skills and training whilst learning more about their local community.

“Supporting young people to volunteer has a positive and lasting effect, not only on the individual, but the whole community,” Mr Smith said.

Advance is a $4.5 million flexible school-based program offered annually in Victorian Government secondary schools. It engages and provides opportunities for young people between the ages of 14-18 to actively participate in their community through volunteering, while learning valuable transferable skills.

“Our volunteers make a valuable contribution to our communities and are the backbone of our communities.  People who volunteer not only gain personal satisfaction in helping others but also develop social networks, gain work experience and maintain existing skills.”

“The importance of volunteers cannot be underestimated and the Advance program will positive outcomes through partnering schools with local community groups,” Mr Delahunty said.

National Volunteer Week will be held from 14-20 May 2012.

For more information on the Advance program go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/advance

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN THE LOWAN ELECTORATE

Baimbridge College
Balmoral Community College
Casterton College
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College
Edenhope P-12 College
Goroke P-12 College
Hamilton Special Developmental School
Horsham College
Horsham special School
Kaniva College
Lake Bolac College
Nhill College
Rainbow Secondary College

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty said Horsham can expect a graduating class of bright, well-prepared and enthusiastic Year 12 students from Horsham College this year thanks to today’s announcement the school has received an $32,500 grant to encourage students to complete secondary school.

Horsham College received the grant under the Victorian Coalition Government’s $5 million Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund awarded to the school as a result of its commendable proposal for retaining students through to Year 12.

The Fabulous Futures program will offer an expanded range of career and course opportunities through a Careers Expos, and encourage students to broaden their pathway aims and understand the opportunities that emerge from remaining at school longer, Mr Delahunty said.
Minister for Education Martin Dixon said while the number of metropolitan students finishing school was going up, the government was committed to ensuring the same opportunities were available to rural and regional students.

“We know when a student completes school, the likelihood of them going on to achieve, succeed and become a skilled and valued contributor to society dramatically increases,” Mr Dixon said.
“Almost nine out of 10 metropolitan students are finishing school, but nearly a third of country students are leaving school early, and these new grants are a step toward addressing this issue.”
The Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund was created upon advice from the Rural Education Reference Group; a cross-sectoral group established by Minister Dixon to advise the government on initiatives specifically designed to support rural and regional schools.

“I am really keen to see the success of these retention programs as they are rolled out across Victoria,” Mr Dixon said.

“It is this government’s belief that schools are the ones best placed to determine what measures will be most effective for their students and I think the community will agree as graduating students become active members of the community and valuable contributors to the local economy.”