Brunswick Labor.net

Babies and young families, home buyers and services are the big winners in the 2008-09 State Budget, Carlo Carli, Member for Brunswick said today.

“New figures released today show we are in the middle of a baby boom,” Mr. Carli said.

“Over 73,700 births recorded last year – the highest since 1971 and we are rolling out initiatives to make sure families have the services they need for their children.”

Childcare operators who fail to supervise children, protect them from harm or subject them to unreasonable discipline will have their penalties doubled under new measures announced by Premier John Brumby.

The Children’s Legislation Amendment Bill, introduced to Parliament last week, meant Victorian parents would be the first in Australia to be able to check the compliance records of all children’s services online.

The new laws would also increase penalties for not providing proper learning and development programs for children, strengthening the Brumby Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education provided in childcare centres.

School is back tomorrow - with 710 new  students starting prep in government schools in Moreland.

$400,000 is being spent to expand IT space at RMIT Brunswick, Carlo Carli announced yesterday

1849 Brunswick women signed the women's suffrage petition in 1891. You can find out if your ancestor was one of them.

CERES Community Environment Park has received a $180,000 Eco Living Grant from the Victorian Government to refurbish the CERES EcoHouse and empower the community to respond to climate change.

CERES will be one of seven Eco Living Centres will be developed across the state for local residents to experience sustainability in action and learn how to apply sustainable measures at home.

With this funding, the CERES EcoHouse will be better placed to support the community by providing local programs and encouraging individuals to take action on climate change in their everyday lives.

Applications have been called for the Government’s $38.56 million boost to the state’s early childhood services, which will include refurbishments for childcare centres and kindergartens and new ‘one-stop shop’ children centres at schools.
Victoria is experiencing the biggest baby boom in 35 years – which is why investment in quality early childhood services and infrastructure is so important.

Mr CARLI (Brunswick) -- Brunswick Secondary College had some fantastic successes at the grand final of the 2007 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge. It was an enormous success by Brunswick Secondary College. I know of the Acting Speaker's long association and that of his family with Brunswick Secondary College. This is very good news. This school had terrific success in a competition with metropolitan, regional and independent schools and students from all over the state. It is in fact the largest youth performing art program in Australia, and Brunswick did extremely well. It won awards for choreography, for stage use, for performance skills, for concept, for drama, for design and function, and for visual enhancement, lighting and design, and it won the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge entertainment award. It was an enormous success.

I congratulate Catherine Weatherhead and all the team and all the students on this fantastic result. It is much appreciated by the school community at Brunswick Secondary College and, I must say, by the local community. It was a terrific night and a terrific event. We are already looking forward to the Rock Eisteddfod for 2008 and further success for Brunswick Secondary College.

The Brumby Labor Government will offer 200 new scholarships to attract more teachers to Victoria’s kindergartens.

The aim of these new scholarships is to help address the current shortage of kindergarten teachers which is preventing some Long Day Child Care centres from offering kindergarten programs.

Victorian children deserve the best kindergarten program experience possible and these new scholarships are aimed at encouraging more people to get the qualifications and skills they need to become kindergarten teachers.

The first 100 of the new scholarships will cover the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) fees for students who are currently working as carers in Long Day Child Care Centres while they study to upgrade their qualifications to become kindergarten teachers.

Nine primary and two secondary schools in the Brunswick electorate will share in the Bracks Government’s $11.1 million maths and science school equipment upgrade.

Mr. Carli said all Victorian Government schools have received a grant.

Local schools in the Brunswick electorate have a great opportunity to save water under a Bracks Government initiative.

Schools in Brunswick, Coburg and Pascoe Vale are being offered a full audit of their internal water use, plus installation of water efficiency fittings and maintenance to slash their water use.

I have written to my local schools encouraging them to take up the offer.

Bike sheds will play a revamped role in the school life of young Victorians with the Bracks Government offering grants of $5000 to help schools design and build a bike shed, or convert an existing shed into a secure bike storage facility.

Grants have opened today.

Helping schools create an environment that supports young riders, the Go for Your Life Bike Shed Seeding Grants will be made available to 40 primary and secondary institutions across Victoria.

The LHMU, supported by Community Childcare Victoria is holding a forum on Monday April 2 to brief Parents, the community and childcare workers on their campaign to have Kennett Era Childcare regulations changed.

The forum is on Monday April 2, from 7pm at the Australian Greek Welfare Society, 7 Union St, Brunswick.

The LHMU Childcare Union has just launched a campaign urging the Victorian Government to change Kennett era regulations governing conditions at childcare centres.

For more information visit the campaign website or watch this video

Victorian government schools have resumed for 2007 - here are some facts about 2007.

• 40,000 teachers
• 536,900 students
• 1,100 new teachers
• Three new schools including the Coburg Senior High School
• 1,597 government schools, inlduing 1,207 primary and 258 secondary
• 203 government schools in the northern metropolitan region, inlcuding 143 primary and 40 secondary

Government schools might be under attack from right wing ideologues in the press but parents know that they are a great place to send their children for their education.

Federal Labor has come out with a pre Australia Day advertisment about the need for an education revolution