Media Release
26/2009
17 July 2009
New facilities were officially opened today at Assisi Catholic College jointly by
Senator for Queensland, Joe Ludwig, David Hutton, Director of Catholic
Education, Foundation Principal, Dora Luxton, and Liana & Nathan Laughton,
the first two students enrolled at the school.
The new facilities include the construction of 25 general learning areas, a
library, physical education covered area, administration, science and music
areas, amenities, art area and a manual arts area.
“These outstanding facilities will help ensure all students at Assisi Catholic
College are encouraged to realise their full potential and attain their goals,”
Senator Ludwig said.
Senator Ludwig congratulated the school and its community on establishing
the best possible facilities for their students.
The projects, totalling $9.3 million were funded by the Australian Government
under the Capital Grants Program $1.63 million, the State Government $6.1
million and the school community $1.52 million.
“This project demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to
providing every student with the best possible learning environment through
the provision of these new/updated facilities,” Senator Ludwig said.
The Australian Government provides significant funding under the Capital
Grants Program to support the construction and upgrading of schools in
partnership with non government school authorities and school communities,
which have primary responsibility for providing, maintaining and upgrading
their school facilities.
The Government is also implementing many new initiatives including:
- The Australian Government is investing a further $14.7 billion to boost the
Education Revolution over the next three years. Building the Education
Revolution (BER) begins this year, and provides infrastructure funding so
each of Australia’s 9540 schools can meet the needs of 21st century
students and teachers. This is a critical component of the Government’s
economic stimulus package, giving our schools the attention they so richly
deserve. BER has three elements:
- Primary Schools for the 21st Century provides $12.4 billion to
build or upgrade large scale infrastructure in all primary schools,
special schools and K-12s (primary component), including libraries,
halls and indoor sporting centres.
- Science and Language Centres for the 21st Century Secondary
Schools provides $1 billion to build up to 500 new science
laboratories and language learning centres in secondary schools
that can demonstrate both need and readiness and capacity to
complete construction during 2009/10.
- National School Pride Program provides $1.3 billion to refurbish
and renew existing infrastructure and undertake minor building
works. Under the program every Australian school will receive up to
$200 000, based on the size of the school, for maintenance and
minor building works.
- The BER also brings forward $110 million to fund quality proposals under
the Trade Training Centres in Schools program. The Program will
provide $2.5 billion over 10 years to enable secondary schools across
Australia to apply for funding of between $500 000 and $1.5 million for
Trade Training Centres.
- The Australian Government will invest $2 billion in the Digital Education
Revolution to improve secondary school student access to ICT and equip
them for the jobs of the future. This includes $1.9 billion over six years
(2008–2013) through the National Secondary School Computer Fund (the
Fund), to provide for new or upgraded information and communications
technology (ICT) for secondary schools with students in years 9 to 12.
Another important element of the Digital Education Revolution is the
investment of up to $100 million to contribute to the provision of broadband
connections to schools through the Fibre Connections to Schools initiative.
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