$28.9m school boost

By Kelly Yates
A $28.9 million plan to transform early learning and education in Doveton has been given a boost as a result of a new partnership between the Brumby Government and a philanthropic organisation.
In a historic move, the Colman Foundation is donating $1.8 million towards the construction of a prep to year nine school on the current Doveton Heights Primary School site.
The Colman Foundation, which assists children from low income families, will contribute $500,000 annually for the provision of early childhood services on the site.
The Education Minister Bronwyn Pike and the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand said the multi-million dollar Doveton regeneration project would deliver outstanding education opportunities for students.
Ms Pike said the Government was taking action to ensure children had access to the best early learning and educational opportunities ena-bling them to develop and reach their full potential.
“This partnership with the Colman Foundation signals an exciting time ahead for the Doveton community, who can look forward to a brand new prep to nine school and a range of early childhood services in the one location,” Ms Pike said.
The combined investment of $28.9 million in State and Commonwealth funding, plus the boost from the Colman Foundation, will deliver the state-of-the-art facilities.
Under the Doveton regeneration project, Endeavour Hills Secondary College and Doveton Heights, Doveton North and Eumemmerring primary schools will amalgamate on the Doveton Heights site.
Ms Morand said co-locating schools with early childhood services, including maternal and child health facilities, helped to ensure Victorian families had access to the services they need most to get the best start in life.
The Colman Foundation’s Julius Colman said Doveton had a vibrant mix of migrant, refugee, indigenous and local kids.
“We feel strongly that the key to the future of these kids, as part of our Australian community, is education – education from the youngest possible age,” Mr Colman said.
“We aspire to create a range of early childhood services, catering for the social and educational development of these kids, all under the one roof and trying to ensure there is continuity of learning from birth right through to senior school,” he said.
Construction of the school and children’s centre will begin later this year and is expected to be completed in 2011.