Safe Schools funding push

Safe Schools funding push

Moves are being made for anti-bully initiative the Safe Schools Coaltion Victoria (SSCV) to be rolled out across the state.

Since its launch last year, the SSCV has enlisted 31 schools to encourage homophobia-free environments for students.

Education Minister Martin Dixon and Prahran MP Clem Newton-Brown met with key community representatives last week to discuss expanding the program’s funding to extend its reach.

“The meeting was a great opportunity to learn more about the work of Safe Schools Coalition Victoria and discuss matters important to addressing discrimination, health
and wellbeing, and learning and education outcomes for those students who
identify as being part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
community,” Dixon said.

Newton-Brown said he would continue to push for more funding for the SSCV in future state budgets.

“The delegation used the opportunity to encourage the [Education] Minister to look at ways in which this great program could be delivered to a broader range of schools,” Newton-Brown said.

SSCV coordinator Roz Ward, Victorian Mental Health Reform Council chair Terry Laidler, gay and lesbian mental health advocate Rob Mitchell and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria’s Liam Leonard attended the meeting.

The program was funded for $80,000 by the Brumby Government in 2010 and received a $100,000 one-off grant from the Baillieu Government in June this year to keep it running for 12 months.

The SSCV is looking for long-term funding to ensure the initiative survives.

The SSCV’s resource booklet, Supporting Sexual Diversity in Schools, has been sent to every school in the state.

UPDATED: WayOut Project coordinator Sue Hackney and LaTrobe University researcher Lynne Hillier did not attend the meeting as previously stated. The Star Observer was mistakenly provided with a list of invited guests rather than attendees.

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