David Bartlett, MHA
Minister for Education

Thursday, 15 June 2006

The State Government will invest a record $776.65 million in the education of Tasmania’s children in 2006/07.

Education Minister David Bartlett said the 2006/07 State Budget allows the Lennon Labor Government to meet all the commitments made to the Tasmanian people during the last election campaign.

“There’s no doubt that among the most important commitments we made are those that effect the education and therefore the future of Tasmania’s children and young people,” Mr Bartlett said.

“This Budget delivers on our commitments to reduce class sizes throughout the State, provide new learning initiatives and assist all Tasmanian children to receive a world-class education.

“Key initiatives in the 2006/07 Budget include:

• $22.25 million to recruit 89 extra teachers over the next five years to progressively reduce class sizes in grades 2 to 7. This will ensure that all classes have 25 students or less. This measure includes an additional $2.25 million of capital funding to be provided to build more classrooms at a number of schools, including Mount Stuart, Lansdowne Crescent and Norwood primary schools in 2006-07. A further 29 teachers will also be hired to reduce class sizes in Grade 7.
• $30 million over four years to build a new high school at Kingston to be built in the Kingborough Sports Centre precinct. The new facility will accommodate up to 750 students and include cutting edge information and communications technology and modern multipurpose classrooms to meet the needs of teaching and learning in the new century. Preliminary site preparation is scheduled to start later this year with construction to begin in 2007 and conclude by 2010.
• $12.6 million over the next four years for the Launching into Learning program, a new Government initiative to help support young children, particularly those at risk, before they formally start school. Extensive research has shown that patterns of learning in the first three or four years after birth are particularly crucial, and have a lasting impact on children’s health, learning and life success. Through this initiative, more schools will be able to take on a greater role in engaging with the community and families before children reach formal school age.”

Mr Bartlett said that making the pre-school sector a better career option is crucial to getting better educational outcomes for Tasmania’s pre-school children.

“Our investment in the pre-school sector in the 2006/07 Budget will include:

• $140,000 over four years through the Skills to Care Program to provide more training and support for new child carers and to train carers to take on management roles. This funding will support new child care workers by providing individual mentorship and coaching, creating support groups led by experienced practitioners and establishing a performance review process.
• $50,000 over two years to support teachers teaching child care through Vocational Education and Training programs in schools. This will give teachers the opportunity to ensure their knowledge of current practices is up to date by gaining industry experience.
• $35,000 a year for a scholarship program to increase the number of child care workers with formally recognised qualifications.”

Mr Bartlett said the Lennon Labor Government is committed to ensuring all Tasmanian students have access to education.

“That’s why this Budget will provide $1.064 million over four years to support Claremont College’s Young Mothers Program which encourages young Tasmanian mothers to stay at school and provides them with vocational and first-aid skills, literacy courses, valuable peer support and parenting and life skills.

“The State Government funding will assist in the refurbishment of the facility used by the Program to provide suitable sleep areas for children as well as an enhanced playground and additional rooms for individual or group work and meetings.”

Funding will also go towards providing a college coordinator and Youth Learning Officer to assist with case management, pathway planning and educational programs.

The State Government has also boosted funding to help Tasmanian families on low-incomes buy school uniforms.

“Since 2002-03 funding for this program has increased from $18,000 to $242,000, a boost of $224,000 in four years.

“The 2006-07 State Budget will provide an extra $100,000 each year to help parents and students in primary and secondary schools who need assistance to help them purchase school uniforms.”

Mr Bartlett said other initiatives in this year’s Budget include a boost of $400,000 over four years to extend the Reading Together early learning program to five new locations around Tasmania and the provision of $10,000 each year for 4 years to give the parents of children in child care a stronger voice by supporting the establishment of a Child Care Parents and Friends group.

Further information: Sue Bailey (03) 6233 2305