Making every South Australian school a great school

Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, and Senator for South Australia, Anne McEwen, today visited Adelaide’s St Paul’s College to speak to teachers and students about Budget initiatives to support schools.

The 2011-12 Budget includes new funding to help students with disabilities, reward Australia’s best teachers and expand the National School Chaplaincy Program.

“It is critical that we give school students right across the nation the qualifications necessary to succeed in today’s increasingly competitive workforce,” Mr Garrett said.

“We want to make every school a great school, offering children a quality education that helps them achieve their full potential.

“The Budget initiatives are all aimed at ensuring the children of Australia, regardless of where they live, have access to the support they need to perform at school and in the workforce.” Senator Anne McEwen welcomed Mr Garrett to St Paul’s College.

“The Grand Junction Construction Industry Trade Training Centre at St Paul’s received more than $4 million from the Government’s $2.5 billion Trade Training Centres in Schools Program,” Senator McEwen said.

“The Grand Junction Construction Industry facility, when complete, will deliver training in industries including furniture making, bricklaying, carpentry, plastering and tiling that will help students enter the skilled workforce.” 

Under the 2011 Budget, the Gillard Government has invested an extra $222 million in funding to the National School Chaplaincy Program, giving 1,000 extra schools in regional, remote and disadvantaged areas a chance to apply for a chaplain.

As part of the More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative in the Budget, teachers and students will be provided with access to speech and occupational therapy, new equipment such as audio and visual technology, and additional support for teachers with the assistance of teachers’ aides.

The $425 million National Rewards for Great Teachers initiative, with the first round of payments beginning in 2014, will also give Australia’s top performing teachers access to a reward payment based on their performance.

Secondary students will have greater access to vocational training through the National Trade Cadetships Scheme, which will begin in 2012.

The Government has committed $3.1 million to the initial development of the scheme and an additional $25 million for structured work experience places.

For more information about the Budget initiatives visit www.deewr.gov.au/Department/Budget.

reff:australia.gov.au