Media Releases

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.”

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said that Balmoral Community College can expect a graduating class of bright, well-prepared and enthusiastic Year 12 students from Balmoral Community College this year thanks to today’s announcement the school has received an $10,350 grant to encourage students to complete secondary school.

Balmoral Community 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 program will coordinate academic group days between schools such as Edenhope College and Goroke P-12, where Year 11 / 12 students are completing similar subjects.  This program will significantly assist students from small schools in rural areas in broadening their experience and developing relationships that can be sustained through the challenging VCE years, 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.”

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is encouraging Lowan schools and students to embrace this year’s Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 7th May.

“Our young people are our investment in the future and it is important to encourage them to be physically active and learn about road safety,” Mr Delahunty said.

Walk To School Safely Day is designed to promote health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age, vital road crossing skills and that walking is a sustainable method of transport to school.”

Mr Delahunty said the Walk To School Safely Day is an annual event held in primary schools around Australia and in 92% of primary schools around Australia participated in 2009.

“This is a great initiative to start our young people on the road to a healthy and active life and encourages regular physical exercise because active kids are healthy kids,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Walking to school also has the benefits of reducing hazardous traffic congestion around schools and makes the area pedestrian friendly for children entering and leaving school.”

“Walking is a great way to exercise – it’s easy, free and almost anyone can do it at any time, plus walking also helps the environment and reduces the dependency on cars.”

Mr Delahunty said that parents and carers are asked to walk to school with their children – either all the way or part of the way.

“Of course for many country students getting to school means travelling by bus. But even if participation means walking from home down the farm driveway and then to the bus pick up point, there is the opportunity for plenty of family involvement.

“Encouraging and supporting students in physical activity is an important way to protect against increasing levels of childhood obesity so I encourage all families to put Walk Safety To School Day in their diaries for Friday 7 May, 2010,” Mr Delahunty said.

For further information visit www.walk.com.au

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has welcomed the joint party Education and Training Committee of the Victorian Parliament inquiry into the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) administration in Victoria.

“The Committee will specifically inquire into the level and appropriateness of any fees and charges imposed by Victorian government agencies; whether construction costs of BER projects are in line with industry standards; whether outcomes were of acceptable quality and suitable to the needs of each individual school,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Committee will also look at the effectiveness of any measures put in place by the Victorian Government to ensure contracts to deliver BER projects are timely, transparent, accountable and represent best value for education outcomes in Victoria.”

The Committee is required to provide an interim report to the Parliament by 31 August 2010 and a final report by 31 December 2010.

“In Parliament last year I raised the concerns of builders in the Lowan electorate who were barred from tendering for the federally funded school building program because the education department clustered numerous projects into one contract up to the value of $5 Million or more. So I will be particularly interested in recommendations regarding the use of local builders and tradespeople during the construction of BER projects,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Local schools throughout the Lowan Electorate have been reluctant to make comment in relation to the BER.

“However I have heard anecdotally comments in relation to spending on low priority buildings and excessive costs.

“The administration of the BER in Victoria has been beset with secrecy, threats and a failure to deliver value for money projects in a timely manner,” Mr Delahunty said.

“I welcome this inquiry and expect it will flush out the truth about gross inefficiencies of the BER and reveal the Brumby Government’s inability to manage yet another project,” Mr Delahunty said.