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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-07-01 Daily Xml
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Napier Electorate

Mr GEE (Napier) (15:39): I stand today to speak about education. Since my election, I have visited most of the schools in my electorate. These consist of eight public and one private primary school, one public high school, three private birth to year 10 schools, one private senior school (which means just year 12), and one public and one private birth to year 12 school. In addition, we have the Adelaide North Special School and Para West Adult Campus, which I will speak more about later. Having said that, I look forward to more schools in my electorate in the future.

Napier has a very broad educational landscape, including public and private schools whose graduates regularly attend university. In fact, a number of schools in my electorate are providing the majority of university places now. At the other end of the spectrum are primary schools where young people do not have basic life or learning skills when they start school, and grade 1 and 2 students who are suffering with serious mental illnesses. These people live very complex lives.

However, it comes through loud and clear from all the teachers and school leaders I have met that there is an absolute commitment to providing quality education to these students. They refuse to accept that because a student lives in a particular postcode they should have less opportunity that other students in the state. I am very pleased that Treasurer Koutsantonis has announced that South Australia will honour its commitments to our students through the Gonski funding, unlike the Abbott government. This additional funding will provide great benefit to students in my electorate.

I am now going to turn members' attention to the Para West Adult Campus, which celebrated its 25th birthday last month. The Para West Adult Campus is the oldest of South Australia's adult re-entry schools and over the last 25 years it has built a very successful education focus community, with adults attending from Gawler to Gepps Cross and most places in between. The Para West Adult Campus was conceived in 1989, when Lea Stevens was appointed as principal and given the task of transforming the then Elizabeth West High School into Elizabeth West Adult Campus under the banner of Inbarendi College.

In 1995, the Elizabeth West campus became the Para West Adult Campus. The school name will likely change again next year as it moves from its current site to a purpose-built facility adjacent to the Elizabeth TAFE. The school has chosen a new name, which is currently awaiting departmental approval. The move to the TAFE site is very exciting for the staff and students, for whom it will provide a smoother transition from the adult campus to the Elizabeth TAFE.

Para West has provided a second chance for many people, young and not so young, to complete their education and move forward to further study. A good education and a good job are essential ingredients to a successful life. The young mums program at Para West, which developed into the family learning curriculum, has been very successful. These programs not only allow mums to learn the essentials about parenting, but also improve their literacy, budgeting skills and much more.

An on-site antenatal service with a senior registered midwife and an on-site creche make remaining at school during pregnancy and returning to school after the birth easier for mums. Para West also offers support for Indigenous students. There are youth workers for students under 21 and coaching and tutorial support are available to students who require extra assistance. The current principal, Colleen Abbott, shared stories of great achievement at Para West during the recent birthday celebrations.

They include stories about Emma and Stacey, who returned to school as young mums and are now both youth workers; Jalina, a new arrival who now works as an event coordinator and is studying a masters in business information and management; Marcia, Louisa and Michael, early school leavers who have now become school leaders and teachers; Malcolm, a disenchanted factory worker who now works with Aboriginal people in the Coorong and is studying for a masters in internet studies and information management; and Jason, a juvenile offender who now has a law arts degree and following completion of a masters program in philosophy at Adelaide University.

These are truly inspiring stories, and I am sure there will be many more over the next 25 years. I will conclude by thanking all teachers, principals, and school services officers who are committed every day to the quality education of our young people.

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