Monday, 18 May 2020

Morwell and Latrobe families will have access to the first-rate early learning and school facilities they deserve, thanks to the Victorian Government.

Minister for Education James Merlino today announced $5.35 million to deliver a world class integrated early learning centre at Morwell Park Primary School and $13.7 million to rebuild Latrobe Special Developmental School.

The Morwell community will benefit from having on-site integrated early learning and community services that will feature the Our Place model, an approach developed by the Colman Foundation to promote positive education outcomes for children and families.

The project will deliver a community centre, including integrated early learning centre facilities, at the school just in time for the roll out of three-year-old kindergarten.

Morwell Park Primary School previously benefited from $7.75 million in Victorian Government funding for the Morwell Regeneration Project, which merged the Tobruk Street, Commercial Road and Morwell primary schools onto one site, the old Kurnai College site in McDonald Street. The school opened in the new site at the start of 2018.

An additional $13.7 million will see Latrobe Special Developmental School rebuilt on the Traralgon College Junior Campus, to provide better links for students with the local community and mainstream education providers in Traralgon.

This is in addition to the $6 million already invested to the project to get planning underway for Latrobe Special Development School and to upgrade Traralgon College.

These projects are part of the Victorian Government’s Building Works package, which will deliver $2.7 billion in shovel-ready projects – big and small – to get thousands of people back to work across our state.

The package includes a $1.18 billion education building program will also build new schools, deliver and refurbish relocatable classrooms and make schools more accessible for students and staff with disabilities.

Together, the projects will create space for more than 21,000 extra students in Victoria’s education system and create more than 1,600 local construction jobs in communities across Victoria.

This $1.18 billion education building program is in addition to the $6.1 billion invested by the Victorian Government on delivering school upgrades since 2014, supporting more than 7,500 construction jobs for Victorians.

The Victorian Government is building the Education State so everyone can get a great education, no matter their background or where they live.

 Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“This investment will see Morwell Park Primary School upgraded and Latrobe Special Developmental School relocated and create local jobs and help our economy recover from coronavirus.”

“These projects in Morwell are just even more great examples of the school building boom that is happening right across Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“This funding will create a light-filled, modern and fit-for-purpose new school for Latrobe Special Development School, and a brand-new Early Learning Centre for Morwell Park Primary to deliver three-year old kinder and a range of community programs”.