{"id":176011,"date":"2025-12-05T04:00:34","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T17:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/?p=176011"},"modified":"2025-12-04T10:54:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T23:54:08","slug":"the-reward-for-success-is-punishment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/news\/the-reward-for-success-is-punishment\/","title":{"rendered":"Committee for Lorne: The Reward for Success is Punishment"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Reward for Success is Punishment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the past four years the Lorne P-12 College has made outstanding improvements in student learning outcomes, welfare and engagement, which has led to an increase in their enrolment, particularly in the secondary years.\u00a0 Despite these achievements the College is facing cuts to three different areas of funding.<\/p>\n

At this time of the year, every school in the state is given a Student Resource Package, or budget for the following twelve months.\u00a0 Part of that package is an amount to run middle years literacy and numeracy programs for students who need support.\u00a0 The amount given is based on NAPLAN (National Assessment Program \u2013 Literacy and Numeracy), results in year 9 and to receive benchmark funding a school must have between 16 to 50 eligible students in this level.\u00a0 Guess what?\u00a0 Some smaller schools may not have 16 in that level in any given year.\u00a0 As a result, in next year\u2019s budget the Lorne P-12 College suffers a loss of $44, 200 to support students who may need literacy or numeracy intervention.\u00a0 Where is the equity that the State Government repeatedly champions in so many other areas?\u00a0 Well, apparently, not if you attend a small school.\u00a0 The changes are both terrible and illogical<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Unlike larger schools, the Lorne P-12 College does not have an oval nor a gymnasium.\u00a0 However, next door is the Stribling Reserve containing an oval and gymnasium managed by the Surf Coast Shire.\u00a0 Historically, the department included in the budget an allowance to clean and maintain these facilities, not an unreasonable proposition.\u00a0 Each year the Lorne P-12 College receives around $27,000 form the Education Department allowing the school to run physical education classes, sporting activities and provide space for the children to play during recess and lunchtime.\u00a0 The loss of these funds will impact upon the use of these facilities.<\/p>\n

The Lorne College is one of forty-eight P-12 Colleges throughout the State.\u00a0 Originally found in remote locations from Mallacoota to Nhill this model saved the state department the cost of running two separate schools or bussing students to larger centres.\u00a0 As compensation, the colleges were given an allowance in recognition of the complexity of managing two sectors with differing cultures on one site, these schools received a modest allowance. \u00a0This year, Lorne received $65,000 in their budget.<\/p>\n

The Lorne P-12 College has levels of school performance in the domains of student learning and wellbeing that are assessed as high.\u00a0 The funds for these three programs mentioned are to be phased out over four years. \u00a0At least the State Government wishes to inflict the pain over time.\u00a0 However, you do not sustain these gains by punishing the school or by making it harder to access community facilities that other schools have as a matter of course.\u00a0 Readers may wonder when driving past the magnificent recreational facilities at wealthy private schools, significantly part-funded by both Federal and State Governments and larger government schools, where is the equity?\u00a0 The College will not reduce its core teaching program, but it will be forced to assess how these three cuts will impact the students and the broader community.\u00a0 As usual it will be the \u201cnon-essential\u201d programs; the school production, the school musical offerings, travel to arts and cultural programs that may suffer.\u00a0 Things that I contend are essential to provide for students in smaller remoter settings where access may be restricted.<\/p>\n

The College has attracted students from outside of their zone, because some students are better suited to smaller class sizes and to the unique learning environment on offer. The personal attention that students receive is not only attractive to the able and gifted students, of which Lorne has many, but also to students who need additional support to learn.\u00a0 The funding for this stream of support has all but disappeared.\u00a0 I say shame on the Education Department, the Ministers and Premier of the Victorian Government who are all big on the rhetoric of inclusion and equity, but quick to cut the resources of the perceived powerless. \u00a0Our smaller townships are suffering enough from the lack of essential workers impacting businesses, the high cost of living impacting residents that often don\u2019t have the option shop elsewhere and now the State Government wants to make senseless and illogical cuts to our school funding as well.<\/p>\n

Gary Allen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secretary<\/strong><\/p>\n

Committee for Lorne<\/strong><\/p>\n

A word from the chairman<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hello<\/p>\n

As you read this column, hopefully we will have had our first taste of summer weather after a long and cold spring. \u00a0Undeterred by cloudy, rainy, windy weather and 10 degrees \u201cfeels like 2\u201d, the Mermaids came out in their new cossies to welcome the first day of summer but didn\u2019t stay chatting for long afterwards. \u00a0While we have all shivered through spring, the farmers have relished the prospect of good crops and feed. \u00a0We hope it bring a productive season for them.<\/p>\n

Of course, good spring rains and growth of vegetation bring with them the prosect of bushfires in February\/March when the undergrowth dries off. It is now timely to review our bushfire readiness. \u00a0Don\u2019t allow the unseasonal weather to fool us.<\/p>\n

The Fire Danger Period for the Surf Coast Shire, declared by the Country Fire Authority (CFA), commenced on November 24 and runs until 1 May 2026, meaning that fire restrictions are already in place across the Surf Coast Shire.<\/p>\n

To find out what you can and can\u2019t do during the Fire Danger Period go to cfa.vic.gov.au<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The restrictions include:<\/p>\n