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LABOR’S LONG TERM STRATEGY
TO MAKE TASMANIA THE
EDUCATION STATE
Making Tasmania the
Education State
We all know how important
education and training is for the
future of Tasmania. That is why
Labor is committed to ensuring our
students and young people get the
best possible education.
Labor stands for accessible and
quality life-long learning. Investing
in education will make our state
stronger and fairer. Labor believes
in a public education system that
supports everyone – regardless of
where you live or your background.
Supporting Our Teachers
Labor will immediately restore teacher
numbers to pre-Hodgman levels.
In 2014 the Hodgman Liberal
Government broke a key election
promise by slashing $150 million
from Tasmanian schools, and
sacking the equivalent of two
teachers from every school.
Labor will repair the damage done by
the Liberal Government by investing
in a world-class education system
that delivers for all Tasmanians.
Keeping classroom sizes down
means that kids get individual
attention and support. Labor’s
plan to make Tasmania the
Education State also includes more
support for our teachers through
improved training.
Saving TasTAFE
The Hodgman Government has
attacked TasTAFE – sending millions
of training dollars offshore.
As part of Labor’s plan to make
Tasmania the Education State,
Labor will restore the damage done
to TasTAFE by keeping training
dollars in Tasmania. This means
that TasTAFE will be able to support
and provide every opportunity to
Tasmanians to reskill on the job
and make education a whole of
life experience.
Tasmanian Education
Partnership
We all know our education and
training systems will drive our
economic growth. That is why
Labor will ensure that education
Putting people first
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initiatives are supported beyond
political cycles.
In Government Labor will establish
the
Tasmanian
Education
Partnership which will leverage
the expertise of the Underwood
Centre, industry leaders, workforce
groups and education specialists to
create an education pathway from
kindergarten to the workforce.
Protecting Pathway
Planning
Labor
regularly
speaks
with
students and teachers about
the vital role Pathway Planning
plays in supporting and equipping
students with the skills they need
to make crucial life decisions about
their future.
More than 2100 people signed
a petition in support of Pathway
Planning. That’s why Labor will
make sure that our schools and
our students have access to quality
Pathway Planning so vital support
can be provided to our school
leavers as they transition into more
education, training or work.
Retention and Aspiration
Labor understands that distance
is a barrier for some students to
continue their education.
That
is why when in government we
facilitated the extension of rural
high schools to year 12, we
continue to support this process.
We are also strong believers in a
vibrant and fully funded Tasmanian
public college system and the
opportunities
it
provides
to
students. We recognise that despite
what it has said, if the Government
proceeds with the extension of
urban high schools to year 12 our
colleges will be fundamentally
undermined.
That is why we have called on the
Government to halt its rollout
of Years 11 and 12 in urban high
schools.
Putting people first
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Labor will ensure students stay in
school longer by requiring every
student to identify and enrol in years
7 to 12 at a high school or college
of their choice before starting high
school. We will invest in modern
ICT infrastructure in our existing high
schools and colleges to strengthen
pathways and better support
shared learning.
Active Kids for
Communities
Active
By joining in a sporting club, young
Tasmanians and their families have a
chance to engage with positive role
models, establish new friendships
and become actively involved in
their communities.
However, Labor understands that all
too often, the cost of membership
fees and new equipment prevents
some children from participating.
That is why, in our first year of
Government, Labor will direct the
Communities, Sport and Recreation
Tasmania Division to establish a
12 month ‘Active Kids – Active
Communities’ pilot program.
Invest in Two New Child
and Family Centres
A Labor Government will build two
new Child and Family Centres in its
first term.
Child and Family Centres have
transformed the lives of children
and their families by giving them
better access to learning, health
services and support.
They are tailored to meet
the needs of their individual
communities, including pregnancy
and parenting support, child
and family health, oral health,
immunisation,
nutrition,
early
childhood education and adult
literacy.
Putting people first
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Enhancing
the
Mental
Health of Young People
There is growing understanding
that young people need support to
manage their health and wellbeing,
especially their mental health.
Recent data shows that young
people aged 16-24 have the
highest occurrence of mental
illness compared to any other age
bracket. That is why Tasmanian
Labor is committed to introducing
compulsory age appropriate social
and emotional learning (SEL)
programs in schools, starting in
primary school.
The Education State
It’s not fair or right that the kids who
need the most support are getting
left behind. The Premier simply
doesn’t understand or care that
there are real consequences for
Tasmanians when his Government
cuts education and training funding.
Every child in Tasmania in every
school deserves the opportunity
to be the best they can be and
contribute to Tasmania’s future.
Labor is putting people first and
focusing on achieving positive
outcomes for our young people.
Together we can make Tasmania
the Education State.
Putting people first
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For more information go to
taslabor.com
Authorised by B. Green, Parliament House, Hobart.