Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of this motion, knowing well the huge difference that needs based funding is making in my area, despite this government's dangerously ham-fisted approach to its implementation, which has included a $30 billion cut. This is despite an election promise to match Labor dollar for dollar. Even with this government's lack of commitment to the Gonski reforms, the funding that has been made available so far is definitely making a real difference. Many schools in Werriwa work with an above average number of disadvantaged children. They have all benefited from the introduction of needs based funding, which has extended the support that they are able to provide to those most in need. This funding has meant that the schools are able to employ extra teachers, teachers' aides, administrative staff and speech pathologists to implement new programs to give students opportunities they did not have before.

At a recent visit to James Busby High School, the member for Sydney and I were able to see firsthand how the funding made available through these reforms is making a difference in the children's lives. The school has employed additional teachers and support staff, enabling students to work in smaller groups with more one-on-one support for those students most in need and bolstering their capacity to improve their literacy and numeracy. The lessons include giving practical advice on why it is important to keep receipts and how to read the receipts and ensure their change is correct. Each of the students has been affected by factors far beyond their control, situations they are often born into. Needs-based funding has opened up for these students opportunities that they would not have previously had, enabling them to improve their literacy and numeracy, where they would have struggled without these funds. The principal at James Busby High School, Olimpia Bartolillo, is a passionate advocate. She is so committed to her students that she has worked at the school for her entire teaching career. Her passion and dedication and the dedication of her team have been clear in the conversations that I have had when visiting the school and have been noted by other community members more broadly.

Lurnea High School is a great example of the benefits that needs-based funding is bringing to my community. 82 per cent of families attending the school are in the lowest quartile of the Family Occupation and Education Index. It already has a long tradition of providing greater opportunities to less advantaged communities in Western Sydney. I know this first hand through the years my sister and I attended there, and more recently my three sons. Keeping with that tradition, Lurnea High has used funding enabled through the Gonski reforms to implement a range of new programs and better resourcing existing ones, which has ensured all students a far wider range of opportunities and that those in need of more focussed assistance have access to it.

I was fortunate enough to return there last week for presentations by the new year 7 cohort. These presentations are the product of a program called the 'Year 7 Transition Innovation', which is to have year 7s start their high school education by completing and presenting a group project. The program is significantly focused on building problem-based learning skills while also encouraging creativity and innovation. The project was to improve the local park, with students asked to create a new space where the community can come and be together. The best groups were chosen to present to an audience that included their parents, Liverpool Councillor Nathan Hagarty, Liverpool Council Social Planner James Flynn and myself. The standard was extremely high and we were all impressed by the creativity on display. In Mr Flynn's words, the ideas and the level of detailed work displayed in the presentations were 'just wow'. The group presentations included many aspects promoting learning, teamwork, critical thinking, practical art and hands-on craft skills, as well as encouraging them to make new friends in a fun environment and fostering a greater sense of community amongst the new cohort.

The implementation of this program has been contingent on the availability of funding through the Gonski reforms. Programs like this are making a real difference at Lurnea and building a greater sense of pride and community amongst students, with a 51 per cent reduction in truancy and a 43 per cent reduction in absenteeism. The impact that this funding is already having is clearly visible. If we follow through on the plan we not only improve academic outcomes as the funding is doing at James Busby we also strengthen our communities through a broader range skills, such as what we see at Lurnea High School. My community wants to see more of this. The government needs to end the uncertainty over this funding and reverse these cuts so that no-one is denied the right of a decent education.

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