Page 3900 - Week 12 - Thursday, 23 November 2006
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
curriculum choices, a focus on extracurricular activities or a particular peer group. And it is worth noting that fewer than 40 per cent of Canberra students attend their local neighbourhood school.
When students and families exercise that choice, I believe they need to know, regardless of where they live and their financial situation, that the school they choose will provide the best possible education for that student, and that means ensuring that all our schools are part of a well-resourced and innovative network of learning. The government is meeting this challenge by providing the largest ever capital injection for education in the history of ACT self-government, with $90 million provided over the next four years for school infrastructure upgrades, along with our investment of $20 million on information technology in schools over the next four years. This funding will ensure that ACT schools continue to provide excellent outcomes for all our students now and into the future.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella) (5.24): As my colleague has said, the primary role of schools is to provide excellent education. But, whilst it is not their key function, the government also recognises the role schools play in community development and cohesion.
However, research suggests other factors also play stronger roles in developing and strengthening community development and cohesion. The Community Inclusion Board commissioned an innovative study into neighbourhood and belonging, looking into the attitudes of Canberrans about what makes the Canberra community work for them in terms of feeling connected with each other. This neighbourhood and belonging study is still being considered by the board. However, some preliminary findings are indicating that by and large there is a generally positive picture of the opportunities within the Canberra community for interaction. This includes a high level of satisfaction with local neighbourhoods and the view that no specific groups or parts of Canberra appear to experience high levels of social exclusion.
However, the research supports one of the key tenets of the social plan—that some people are at risk of social exclusion. These include late teens, particularly those from a lower socioeconomic background, young adults who are new to Canberra, elderly people, and migrant contact outside their ethnic communities. Public events and celebrations were seen as a key to developing a sense of community and people thought that Canberra is a great place for young children and families, although stay-at-home parents were at risk of exclusion. The services provided by government through community health centres and playgroups were viewed as important in addressing such exclusion.
The study has also pointed to other aspects that Canberrans value, such as multiculturalism and tolerance. The report’s preliminary findings and conclusions, which are still to be considered in detail by the board, help one come to the conclusion that the Canberra community is a strong one by Australian standards.
Cultural funding and activity play a significant role in creating community cohesion. The ACT government spent $55.5 million on cultural activities during 2004-05, and ABS figures show that in 2003-04 the level of cultural funding per person was $141 compared to the national average of only $118 per person and a low of $89 per person
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .