Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In recent weeks I visited three excellent schools in my electorate to help open new facilities made possible with the support of the Australian government's Capital Grants Program. Hume Anglican Grammar is an independent co-ed multicampus school, with campuses located in Kalkallo, Mickleham—Mount Ridley—and Donnybrook. I was pleased to officially open the Kalkallo campus's new years 3 and 4 learning neighbourhood. The Australian government's contribution of $1.8 million under the Capital Grants Program meant that this new learning neighbourhood, which comprises six general learning areas and seven flexible learning areas as well as offices, amenities and a covered outdoor area, is an excellent addition to the school's growing population.

To the Holy Cross Catholic Primary School in Mickleham the Australian government contributed $5 million—again, under the Capital Grants Program—to build a two-storey junior learning facility—a beautiful, modern new space that will enhance the learning environment for both students and teachers. Finally, I was pleased to take part in the turning of the sod ceremony for a new campus of Kolbe Catholic College, also in Mickleham. This important new campus is being supported by the Victorian government, which is also committed to ensuring excellent facilities for all students across the state in all sectors.

The Capital Grants Program provides funding for non-government school communities to improve capital infrastructure, particularly for the most educationally disadvantaged students and, particularly, to make provision for needs arising from new demographic and enrolment trends. Like other growth corridors around the country, my electorate of Calwell is growing very rapidly, with new communities springing up and the demand for new schools constantly growing as well.

Many of my newer constituents—young families who've recently arrived from overseas or who are moving to new, more affordable homes—are seeking to enrol their children in independent and, especially, Catholic schools. That is not to say that the excellent government schools being built in the growth areas are not meeting educational and other needs; they certainly are, and they all have a very valued place in our diverse and thriving community.

This government is committed to providing all schools with appropriate funding so that all students get the best possible choice of education. These facilities will provide an environment that will help teachers nurture and inspire students to do the very best they can. This is an important investment for our young people now and into the future. Over the next four years, the government will be investing around $959 million on facilities such as these, including over $61.1 million in Victoria this year. We want every child, no matter where they live or which education system they and their parents choose, to have the best schooling possible. The government provides recurrent funding for every student enrolled at a school and is committed to providing fair funding for all schools across Australia. In 2024 recurrent funding for schools is estimated to total some $29.2 billion.

We know that at the end of the day it's not the buildings alone that deliver a great education; it's also passionate and well supported teachers and the wider learning community. But great facilities can certainly help, and the schools in Calwell are very proud of their facilities and of their teachers.

Finally, I also had the opportunity to meet with His Holiness Mar Awa III, the 22nd Catholicos patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, who is currently in Australia visiting his parishioners. His Holiness began his visit in Melbourne, where my local Assyrian community were able to rejoice in his presence and share many wonderful moments, as I did when I attended a dinner in his honour hosted by the Assyrian Church of the East—Diocese of Victoria and New Zealand.

The Assyrian Christian community has a significant presence in Calwell. It is an established community, one of deep faith, and is well integrated in our broader multicultural community. With the strong leadership of Bishop His Grace Mar Benyamin Elya, the community has built the St Abdisho's Assyrian Church of the East, in Coolaroo, whose grand opening and consecration I attended in May 2014. Since then a Sunday school and church hall were also built on the remaining site, and the community now has plans to build St Joseph's Christian College on land it has purchased in Mickleham. In his address at the dinner, His Holiness strongly endorsed these plans and stated that he looked forward to returning to Australia for the opening of the school. I want to wish His Holiness all the very best, and I wish him a safe journey back to Iraq.

House adjourned at 19:59