Page 2126 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 May 2009
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work in which we are partnering with the federal Labor government to ensure that every ACT student benefits from upgrades to their school.
There are a number of key elements in terms of strategic ACT government investments in this budget that have been discussed, particularly the construction of a much needed high school in east Gungahlin, at Harrison. Also, one that I would like to particularly highlight, and one that is located in the electorate that Minister Corbell and I share, in Woden, is the construction of a new performing arts theatre at the Canberra college, which will be an important community asset for the people of Woden. The primary purpose, of course, is to serve the needs of the school but it will be available for the broader community and it will provide much needed community space in Woden.
We are also providing additional funding for the Gungahlin college project aimed at increasing the range of vocational education and training opportunities in partnership with the CIT—another welcome initiative in support of our learning and earning policy. We have provided a range of initiatives involving rainwater tanks, solar panels and a number of other capital projects within our schools, and we have provided more money for information and communication technology in government and non-government primary schools. Recognising that the commonwealth is investing significantly in secondary schools’ ICT, we are targeting our investment at primary schools.
A program that I would particularly like to talk about is the near million-dollar investment in gifted and talented students. This is an area that the government wants to work intensely on over the next four years, working in partnership with parents and with teachers to recognise and nurture gifted and talented students in our public education system.
We also acknowledge the need for additional resources for students who have English as a second language and additional resources for language education. We have met our commitments to non-government schools in relation to the creation of a $4 million non-government school equity fund. This will assist students with identified learning needs, those who come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds in non-government schools and to assist with students in non-government schools who have special education needs.
The government is also investing heavily in Australian school-based apprenticeships through the Department of Education and Training, another initiative targeted at providing options for young people, who may not want to take a traditional path through years 11 and 12 and on to university, to take up a school-based apprenticeship through the Department of Education and Training in many different fields. It is a most welcome initiative.
In the children and youth portfolio, the main investment there is an $11 million boost to out-of-home care supports over the next four years. This increased funding will provide increased placement management services to better place children with suitable carers. A placement services unit within the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support will manage and coordinate placement options for children and young
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