2007-08 Victorian State Budget

Supporting More Teachers and Higher Standards

The Bracks Government is continuing to invest in programs that support teachers and students so Victoria has a world-class education system.

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Fact Sheet

$35 million over four years to employ teacher assistants in secondary schools

Every Victorian government secondary school will employ a teacher assistant over the next four years, to reduce the burden of administrative tasks on teachers, thereby allowing them to focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning.

 

Teacher assistants will provide administrative support to secondary teachers including organising school functions, helping with co-curricular programs and photocopying, collecting money for excursions and preparing newsletters.

$80 million for the employment of primary welfare officers

The employment of 256 welfare officers at 450 needy primary schools across Victoria will support students most in need.

 

Primary Welfare Officers, introduced by the Bracks Government in 2003–04, have been instrumental in helping students in need to improve their reading, writing and numeracy skills. They have also helped to improve school attendance rates and addressed behavioural issues of some students.

 

This funding will also support students who are at risk of disengaging from education.

$1.8 million over six years to continue the successful career change program

Fifty new places will be created in the successful Career Change Program for qualified professionals to train as teachers.

 

Trainees will be based in a nominated school during a two-year training period while they undertake studies towards a teaching qualification.

 

Priority will be given in this intake to those eligible to become maths or science teachers.

$1.4 million over six years for science graduate scholarships

 

One hundred and fifty scholarships will be provided to encourage maths and science graduates to undertake further training in education and teach in government schools.

 

This initiative will boost the number and calibre of science and maths teachers in government schools, providing grants of up to $9000 to each graduate.

$113 million over four years to support non-government schools

 

Needy non-government schools will be eligible to apply for grants totalling $30 million to upgrade or replace their educational facilities.

 

Capital grants of between $100,000 and $350,000 will be available to replace or upgrade facilities.

 

The needs-based grants program will be administered on behalf of the Department of Education by the Victorian Independent Schools BGA Ltd and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria.

 

An additional $83 million is being provided to the non-government school sector, as a continuation of the Government’s 2002 commitment to assist needy non-government schools.

 

This recurrent funding targets educational improvements in literacy, numeracy and retention and helps to offset the ongoing costs of school education.

$49 million over three years to continue the Schools for Innovation and Excellence program

Funding will continue the employment of the equivalent of up to 250 teachers under the Schools for Innovation and Excellence program, which is improving literacy, numeracy, school attendance and retention for primary and secondary students in Years 5 to 9.

 

Under this program, teachers work together within clusters of primary and secondary schools to develop innovative curriculum aimed at improving student participation and outcomes.

 

The program will have a renewed focus on maths and science outcomes for students and will assist with the implementation of the new Ultranet.

$32 million over two years to support teaching and learning

The Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund, which will continue the work of the Leading Schools Fund, supports school transformation through new ways of teaching and learning, new design of school facilities, and the development of innovative curriculum.

 

The equivalent of 450 teachers are employed under the Government’s 2003 commitment to this program.

$11 million maths and science equipment grants

Equipment grants of up to $55,000 will be made available to every government secondary school to improve and modernise science teaching.

 

Grants of up to $10,000 will be available to primary schools to support science and maths teaching in Years 5 and 6.

 

The funds can be used to purchase extra hands-on equipment and to extend maths and science programs with equipment such as weather stations, digital microscopes and temperature probes.

$5.4 million to promote diversity

Victoria’s 200 accredited Community Languages Schools (previously known as Ethnic Schools) complement school-based languages classes, providing tuition to around 34,000 students annually.

 

This program benefits students unable to access language education in mainstream schools.

 

The 2007–08 Budget will increase the annual student subsidy for these not-for-profit organisations from $100 to $120.

 

A one-off $300,000 grant will also be provided to the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) to boost the organisation’s After Hours Ethnic Schools professional development program.

 

This will enable the VMC to provide support for school-based professional development Ethnic Schools and to assist new communities wanting to establish these schools.

 

Funding is also allocated to provide ongoing support to continue the work of the five Victorian School of Languages in regional Victoria.

 

The centres are located at Warrnambool College, Horsham College, Leongatha Secondary College, Wodonga West College and Gisborne Secondary College.

More Information

Victorian State Budget 2007-08 - for Education

Victorian State Budget web site (http://www.budget.vic.gov.au/)