Page 540 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 March 2023
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Principals’ Association, to ensure we can meet their needs and understand the complexity of these issues and what we can do as a government to ensure they are safe and healthy at work. Also, we will continue to work as a community to make the message clear that violence or bullying behaviour of anybody within our schools—students, school principals, school leaders, all support staff—is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Education—Future of Education equity grants
MR PETTERSSON: My question is to the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. Minister, can you please update the Assembly on delivery of the ACT Labor election commitment for a Future of Education Equity Fund?
MS BERRY: I thank Mr Pettersson for his question. I am very pleased to give an update on the ACT government’s Future of Education Equity Fund and the impact that it is having on people’s lives, particularly families and young people in the ACT, to ensure they get an equal start with a great education. Of course our Future of Education Strategy recognises that not every child comes from an equal start, they have different backgrounds and different starting points. The Future of Education Equity Fund aims to address that.
It was a 2020 ACT Labor election commitment to ensure that children no matter their background or circumstances have the best possible start to their education. We started in 2022 with the first round of the education fund which supported over 3,400 families. The ACT government continues to deliver on this $11.46 million election commitment. In 2023 we started the second round of the equity fund which opened last month. In the past month 1,519 students and 700 families have been approved payment. This represents over $880,000 already going to ACT families who need it most. The fund provides one-off payments of $400 for pre-school students, $500 for primary school students and $750 for high school students and college students. These funds can be used for families with educational expenses including things like school uniforms, school excursions, sport equipment as well as other activities and music lessons.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, how can ACT families apply for funding support?
MS BERRY: There are a number of ways that families can access the funds. They can go to the Future of Education Equity Fund page on the ACT Education Directorate’s website and complete an online application form. However, if there are families who require assistance with their application they can call the equity fund team on 6207 1818. The fund is open to families and students in public, Catholic and independent school sectors. We know that families might encounter financial difficulties at any point in the year, which is why the applications for the fund will remain open until term 4.
MS ORR: Minister, what else is the ACT government doing to support families with the costs of education?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Orr for her interest in equity across our schools. The ACT government believes every child deserves the best possible start when it comes to
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