Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Wednesday, 10 March 2004) . . Page.. 945 ..

to the particular needs of their school community. There are also other government support mechanisms for schools. For example, in response to the inquiry into ACT education funding, the allocation of schools equity funding was doubled in the 2003-04 budget.

There are many government programs in place to assist students from low income families to participate and achieve in our public schools. One of these is the schools equity fund, which, as we have heard, under this government has received a substantial increase in funding. The fund provides financial assistance to those schools that have been identified through the Australian Bureau of Statistics data and from school enrolment data as needing extra support. Currently, 15 government schools receive schools equity funding. The minister, Ms Gallagher, met with the principals of these schools in February of this year and discussed the uses for the funds and the programs to meet the needs of disadvantaged students.

Schools equity fund schools choose to use some of their funding to pay for or to subsidise excursions and camps. For example, a Tuggeranong primary school’s schools equity fund allocation was $13,124, and they used $560 for student participation in camps and excursions, while a Belconnen high school had a schools equity fund allocation of $15,000 and used $800 to subsidise excursions. All schools work closely with parents and carers to ensure that students can access educational activities such as camps and excursions.

Another example of a supportive program is the schools as communities program. It has been established to improve the relationships between families, communities and their schools. Children and young people who are considered to be at risk of poor social or academic outcomes are a special focus of this program. The program funds and trials proven family strengthening models involving schools to improve social and educational outcomes for young people.

Further, the junior secondary bursary scheme provides assistance to low income earners in the ACT with dependent full-time students aged 14 or 15. Families receive either $450 or $500 for a student who is aged 14 and 15 respectively. This funding is to assist with costs related to education. Approximately 450 students in government and non-government schools are currently being supported through this scheme. However, support from the school community over the life of the student’s schooling will be more effectively targeted towards the needs of the student and their participation.

Schools implement strategies to ensure equity of access for students to programs and activities offered by the school. ACT schools provide a range of challenging opportunities for students through excursions and camps. A sample of the outdoor education activities is canoeing, abseiling, rock climbing, horse riding, bushwalking, caving and archery. Principals work to ensure students who are studying subjects that involve such activities can experience these wonderful, often extracurricular, pursuits.

Schools already provide many avenues to support students at risk. ACT schools are committed to equity of access. Schools are supported by this government through school based management funding to meet the needs of all students. In conclusion, I am concerned, on behalf of the minister, that some parents or carers have expressed concern

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .