PARA WEST EARLY LEARNING CENTRE PRESCHOOL

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (15:33): I was very pleased to be asked recently to open the Early Learning Centre Preschool at the Para West adult campus.

Mr Venning interjecting:

The Hon. L. STEVENS: Madam Deputy Speaker, it is difficult to—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Schubert will not interrupt.

The Hon. L. STEVENS: The early learning centre is a very important initiative that comes on top of many years of excellent work by that campus in the education and support of young mothers, particularly those in a disadvantaged situation. I was especially pleased because I was the foundation principal of the school from 1989 until 1993, and it is always good to be invited back to see a really important program developing to the extent that this has.

Para West Adult Campus has a family learning faculty, which was developed in response to the needs of young mothers and young families and, particularly, single-parent families in the local community, but it draws people from a wide radius around that centre.

The family learning program commenced in 1993 with the Pathways for Young Mums program, and it is the longest-running school program of its type in Australia. Relevant programs and resources have evolved over time in direct response to community needs. I would like to pay a particular compliment to the Coordinator of Family Learning at Para West Adult Campus, Ann Thomas. I remember appointing her to the staff in the time that I was there. I think at the time she filled a key teacher position. Her job was to be a community liaison person looking for innovative ways for that campus to involve the local community, to draw them into the campus and to provide learning opportunities for them. She has done this with bells on.

It is through Ann's efforts that the family learning faculty has developed to the extent that it has. Family learning at Para West Adult Campus supplies learning that is centred on children zero to five years of age and their family members. It is generally recognised that the first and most important learning experiences occur in the home. The values, attitudes and culture that we learn from our families can stay with us throughout our lives. We acquire knowledge from school, but that knowledge is given a context by the family and the family situation from which we come.

For example, children learn to read at school, but it is often the family that nurtures the love of reading. Without family support, a child's education is impoverished and can become a developmental struggle. Evidence suggests that the family learning programs assist in addressing difficulties associated with multiple disadvantage.

Within this context, Para West Adult Campus provides a second chance for parents, carers, step-parents and grandparents of young children. It provides a second chance for them to return to education through the family learning programs. These programs recognise informal and formal learning and involve working with more than one generation. A major strength is that they are offered within a learning approach, which emphasises collaboration, negotiation and building community partnerships.

There are a whole range of courses, and assessment processes are constructed around the formal and informal, with collaborative learning experiences supporting the wellbeing of young families. All of the programs are negotiated with the participants and are presented in association with community organisations. So, congratulations to Para West Adult Campus, and congratulations to Ann Thomas and her staff. I am sure that this program will continue to provide massive support to families in the northern suburbs.