Kirsten Livermore (Capricornia, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the member for Petrie’s excellent motion. The Rudd government’s computers in schools program is a fantastic initiative that provides much-needed technology for our students in all schools. The program, announced as part of the 2007 election campaign, aims to have one computer for each student in years 9 to 12 by the year 2011. The funding already allocated to schools in my electorate is seeing them well on the way to meeting that target. This aim is not only a clear statement of our desire to instigate an education revolution in this country but a concrete example of how the Rudd government is working in conjunction with the states to ensure that our children receive the best possible educational experience. I know that principals I have spoken to in my electorate are excited by the possibilities that this program presents for their schools and the whole new world of opportunities it provides for their students.

Under the second round of funding announced on 28 January, 18 schools in my electorate received computers. Capricornia is a large and diverse electorate, so the effect of this program reaches into many communities, big and small, and communities that represent a mixture of industries and economic bases, all of which will be looking for school graduates with information technology skills. The schools in the state system were: Dysart State High School, 41 computers; Glenmore State High School, 165 computers; Moranbah State High School, 102 computers; Mount Morgan State High School, 43 computers; Rockhampton State High School, 22 computers; Mirani State High School, 121 computers; Clermont State High School, 25 computers; North Rockhampton State High School, 216 computers; Yeppoon State High School, 200 computers; Glenden State School, 14 computers; Middlemount Community School, 30 computers; and Rockhampton North Special School, three computers. The independent schools were also in there: Rockhampton Girls Grammar School is receiving 43 computers and Rockhampton Grammar School will get 174 computers. In the Catholic system, the Cathedral College will get 187 computers; Emmaus College, 193 computers; St Brendan’s College, 80 computers; and St Ursula’s College, 110 computers. This is a total of 1,769 computers in schools in my electorate.

This latest round means that all schools in my electorate and across the nation have now been given the opportunity to obtain the necessary funding to bring them to a one to two computer to student ratio. The comments from principals in my electorate include those from the Principal of the Lighthouse Christian School, John Buchholz, who had 14 new laptops arrive in his school’s classrooms at the end of last year through round 1 of the program. He tells me that both teachers and students are excited about the new laptops because the machines replaced a series of PCs that were clunky, out of date and frustrating to use. Principal Buchholz says the laptops give the school full flexibility to move them throughout the classrooms as required and to ensure all the students have access each day to the technology they need. The students used the laptops for chemistry, physics, IT and even media and photography. They are learning new things and in new ways, and this was simply not possible before.

Another example is Heights College, which is a very fast growing school in Rockhampton. Principal Andrew Johnson agrees that the computers in schools program is a great initiative. He tells me it has delivered a range of new technologies thanks to the school receiving 72 new computers. At Heights College they have trolleys to accompany the laptops and make them extra mobile, which has been great for getting the computers to middle school students. They have also invested in interactive whiteboards, data projectors and new software. Mr Johnson said it had delivered significant benefits for all of his students.

Just last month I had the pleasure of visiting Glenmore High School on the day that round 2 of the funding was announced. I have been speaking with the principal there, Joy Ganter, who says that the 165 new computers that her school will soon receive will be wonderful. At Glenmore the computers will be deployed across the entire curriculum. This will see students working with a suite of Microsoft Office programs as well as more specific programs in the science, mathematics and industrial technology and design departments.

This program is important. There is no doubt that computers and the internet have become a necessity of life, and having our children utilising them at a young age prepares them for their continued use through their lives. The member for Petrie states in her motion that the future of this country lies within our young people and that as a government we must invest in our schools to invest in our future. This sums up the computers in schools program entirely. This package is all about investing in our youth and ensuring that they get the very best education we can provide and guaranteeing that they are well equipped to take on that future. This comes on top of the great news of funding for primary schools which was announced in the last sitting week. I know schools in my electorate are really seeing the benefits of the education revolution.

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