Premier

Boosting Jobs And Schools In Shepparton

26 April 2017

Shepparton students will benefit from a new ten year plan to transform the town’s education system, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Meeting with local secondary school principals and community leaders today, Minister for Education James Merlino announced the start of consultation on the new Shepparton Education Plan.

An initial $1 million, secured as part of the Victorian Budget 2017/18, will go to extensive community consultation, a central part of developing the plan. Funding will also go towards future architectural planning of schools where required.

The town’s secondary schools are already working hard to give local kids the best possible start. By sharing knowledge and aligning their class timetables, students are given more choice and a broader range of programs and subjects.

The Shepparton Education Plan will take this work to the next level. The plan will give students even more opportunities, improve school infrastructure and link local teachers with education experts.

It will be designed in consultation with local schools and the community, and has three stages – the first to revitalise the town’s secondary schools. From mid-2018, there will be an action plan for primary schools and from 2020, a focus on early childhood education.

Mr Merlino also visited SPC Ardmona, which is a major supplier for the School Breakfast Clubs Program. Run by Foodbank Victoria, the $13.7 million program provides breakfast to 25,000 students at 500 disadvantaged primary schools across the state.

The vast bulk of the food products served up every day of the school year comes from Victorian businesses like SPC Ardmona. The company’s signature canned fruit has been a staple of the Breakfast in Schools program and in 2017 SPC’s baked beans and fruit cups were added to the menu.

It is yet another example of the Labor Government’s dedication to protecting jobs in the Goulburn Valley region. The Government provided $22 million to SPC Ardmona in 2014 when the Commonwealth backed away from lending a hand.

More than 2,500 local jobs rely on the factory keeping its doors open and the Breakfast in Schools program will continue sourcing its food from SPC Ardmona for years to come.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“Local schools in the region are already doing a top job. The new Education Plan will take this work to the next level and give local students even more opportunities.”

“As part of our consultation, we’ll listen to the people who know Shepparton’s schools best – principals, teachers, parents and the local community.”

“The visit to the SPC Ardmona factory was another reminder of how valuable our Breakfast in Schools program is. Not only are we making sure Victorian kids don’t head to classroom with an empty stomach, we are supporting local jobs in the region.”

Background: The Breakfast in Schools Program

With one in seven children arriving hungry to school Breakfast in Schools is making a real difference – nine of ten teachers report improved concentration in the classroom since it began.

In 2017, Foodbank will distribute 559 tonnes of food to schools throughout Victoria. That includes:

  • 286,000 litres of milk
  • 150,000kg of canned fruit and fruit cups
  • 48,000kg of baked beans
  • 19,000kg of Vita-Brits
  • 19,000kg of Cheerios
  • 18,000kg of muesli, AND
  • 20,000kg of oats.

SPC Ardmona is a key part of the Breakfast in Schools program:

  • The company supplies canned fruit, baked beans and fruit cups. Fruit cups were added to the menu in 2017 to provide a more convenient option for students arriving late or requiring emergency lunches.
  • As of Term 1, 2017, Foodbank Victoria is sourcing baked beans for the School Breakfast Clubs Program from SPC Ardmona in the Goulburn Valley.
  • All fruit (peaches and pears) and tomatoes (for the baked beans sauce) supplied to SBCP are sourced from Victorian farmers.
  • SPC Ardmona manufactures and packs all its products supplied to the program in Shepparton, Victoria. SPC has more than 400 employees as well as additional seasonal staff during the “fruit season” (November to May).
SCHOOL BREAKFAST CLUBS PROGRAM PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN GREATER SHEPPARTON

School Address No. of students enrolled No. of days per week SBCP operating Avg. no. of students at SBCP per day
Tallygaroopna Primary School Victoria St, Tallygaroopna 64 2 25
Lemnos Primary School Lemnos Road, Lemnos 11 5 11
Gowrie Street Primary School 1-19 Gowrie Street, Shepparton 286 5 30
St Georges Road Primary School 120 St Georges Road, Shepparton 407 1 25
Wilmot Road Primary School 84-90 Wilmot Road, Shepparton 285 5 15
Mooroopna Primary School 16-18 O'Brien Street, Mooroopna 200 5 50
Mooroopna Park Primary School 45 MacIsaac Road, Mooroopna 127 5 10
Ardmona Primary School 580 Turnbull Road, Ardmona 28 5 20
Murchison Primary School 8-10 Impey Street, Murchison 114 5 15
Harston Primary School 155 Harston Road, Tatura 34 2 15
Dookie Primary School Baldock Street, Dookie 41 2 30
Verney Road School 2 Verney Road, Shepparton 195 5 25
Bourchier Street Primary School Cnr Bourchier St & Balaclava Rd, Shepparton 613 3 25
Dhurringile Primary School 605 Langham Road, Dhurringile 11 3 10

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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