GAWLER BIRTH TO YEAR 12 SCHOOL

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:56): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister update the house on the progress of the Gawler Birth to Year 12 School?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:56): I absolutely would like to acknowledge the outstanding advocacy that we and every minister in this place sees from the member for Light. He is an outstanding advocate for his community.

I am pleased to announce that work has started on the Gawler Birth to Year 12 School, a $12 million project that will accommodate 1,200 primary and high school students and provide 45 preschool places. The Gawler B-12 School not only offers students and families in the area the best new and modern facilities including 10 new general learning areas; covered outdoor play areas; new agriculture studies facilities; a junior school oval; and a refurbished admin and resource centre; it will also incorporate a children's centre that will include a preschool, occasional care and health services, giving parents a one-stop shop. That is a very important development for this community.

This approach will enable the new school to work with and support children and their families from birth to year 12 to make sure there is a consistent approach to learning and child development. It is an approach that is very much reflected in the new focus of this very important agency, because we know that working with and supporting families in the early years of a child's life has the most positive effect on future learning and behavioural outcomes.

This project is part of the government's education and work (stage 2) program. It involves the voluntary closure of Evanston Primary School, Evanston Preschool and Gawler High School to create the new Gawler B-12 School. It is a further outstanding example of the state government taking the future of our young South Australians seriously, and being willing to invest in quality education and services for our children and their families.