Country Schools

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister inform the house about the new education facilities in country SA which the state government has invested in?

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education, who is on one warning.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development) (15:10): During the week of country cabinet I had the honour of officially opening four new educational facilities, spanning early childhood to high school, in the Riverland, Jamestown and Port Pirie. Collectively, this represented an investment of over $15 million in our regions.

My first stop was the new Riverland Special School, relocated to Glossop High's Berri campus under the $49.5 million Special School Renewal Program. This $7.3 million investment is one of six schools to be rebuilt and has delivered new, modern, purpose-built facilities so students' needs are better met. The school is bright and spacious, with open spaces and a terrific outdoor area, including beautifully landscaped grounds and a huge covered space.

Being side by side with a mainstream school brings students greater opportunity for collaboration, access to broader curriculum and for sharing facilities. It promotes links with peers and greater understanding of disability issues. It was very clear to me that the students and staff are all very proud of their new school, and I was given a delightful booklet, put together by students to commemorate this event.

I also visited Jamestown for the opening of their $2.4 million Community Children's Centre, co-located with the Jamestown Community School. Again, it is a bright, purpose-built centre with room for child care and preschool groups, and a fantastic outdoor area. So, Jamestown Community School now truly is a birth to year 12 facility. The centre provides support for children with physical, behavioural, speech and language needs.

I was also very pleased to visit John Pirie Secondary School for the opening of their $3.9 million administration centre. I had the great pleasure of officially opening the new Port Pirie West Children's Centre. The state government invested $1.2 million to refurbish the building, to give it the space to cater for families as a children's centre. We are also providing an additional $670,000 for extra space for the provision of child care. The centre is a lovely place. It is light and bright, warm and welcoming; a place where parents and children feel at home, where they can access the education, parenting and health services they need, all in the same spot.

Port Pirie West Children's Centre is one of 41 children's centres around the state supporting children's development, learning, health and wellbeing. They also support the most important people in children's lives: their parents and carers. Time and again I am hearing positive stories about parents' experiences at the children's centres, and Port Pirie West was no exception. I met and spoke with a young woman who as a young single mother, had never imagined being employed. Now she is an early childhood worker at the centre.

I take the opportunity to recognise all those involved with these wonderful facilities: the architects and builders behind these new facilities. I would also like to acknowledge and thank staff, parents and other members of the communities I visited who contribute so much to the day-to-day running of their schools and children's centres and, importantly, contribute on a daily basis to the development and education of young people in our country regions.