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Steve is the current Parliamentary Secretary for Education. Here are a selection of media releases involving the Education portfolio.
Parliamentary Secretary for Education
Media Releases 16th June 2008 Montmorency South Primary School Host Premier’s Reading Challenge Author. Author of the popular “Specky McGee” and “Boyz Rule!” series of books, Mr Felice Arena, paid a visit to Montmorency South Primary School on Friday the 13th of June and treated the kids to a terrific talk on the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Mr Arena, introduced by Member for Eltham ,Steve Herbert MP, had 60 grade 4 and 5 children in fits of laughter after running a play based on the first chapter of one of his “Specky McGee” books with the help of some of the students and teachers at Montmorency South Primay. “Felice has a terrific way with kids, and certainly entertained all present - students, teachers and myself - with his “world premier” of “Specky McGee” coming off the pages and into real life” “The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a great way to get kids involved in reading and too hopefully instil a lifelong love or books. This year there are 255 Montmorency South Primary School students involved in the Premier’s Reading Challenge – an increase from 194 in 2007. “I was fortunate to be given a tour of the school by two students, Jamie and Matt, prior to Felice’s audience with the students and I must say the condition of the school is an absolute tribute to the hard work of staff, students and parents. “Montmorency South Primary, and indeed all of the schools in the local area, have taken on the Premier’s Reading Challenge with gusto and “They have created a 1st class learning environment at the school and clearly take great pride in their facilities and grounds. “I am proud of the Montmorency South Primary School for demonstrating the quality of our local schools to one of this years Premier’s Reading Challenge authors. “It would have been impossible for Felice not to have been impressed by obvious pride the local community holds for the school.,” Mr Herbert said. 7th May 2008 FAMILIES THE BIG WINNERS IN STATE BUDGET Local schools are some of the big winners in this week’s State Budget. Member for Eltham, Steve Herbert, and Member for Yan Yean, Danielle Green, said the Brumby Government had made it clear that providing a quality education was a priority across Victoria. The State Government had shown its commitment to education in Tuesday’s budget and local schools were the beneficiaries of a long-term initiative, they said. Mr Herbert said the final stage of the Eltham Primary School rebuild would be funded with an injection of $4 million, which was part of a state-wide program. “The next stage of the school rebuild has been a hot topic on the lips of every parent, and after years of anticipation it’s great to see this project going into stage two,’’ Mr Herbert said. “This is more terrific news and it comes in a week that saw our teachers become the best paid teachers in the country,” he added. Ms Green said young families had especially been looked after in the budget. She welcomed funding to build a new school in Mernda which will service families in the booming northern growth corridor. “Children are our most precious resource and by providing funding to help build a new primary school in Mernda the State Government is not only providing local families with first class education for their children, but is also investing in the future,’’ Ms Green said. “The State Government is honouring its commitment to families by making education a priority across Victoria,” Ms Green said The State Budget contained an $815.6 million boost to education that includes funds to rebuild, renovate or extend 128 schools and an education reform program to lift standards for students. “As well as the increase in education funding, health care is set for a massive boost thanks to over $800 million is extra funding to slash elective surgery lists and treat tens of thousands of extra patients each year,” Mr Herbert said. Ms Green said: “Health, education, the environment and transport are but a few areas that have seen unprecedented investment by the State Government since 1999. The budget will provide $702.9 million for hospitals to treat an extra 16,000 elective surgery patients, an extra 33,500 outpatient appointments and an extra 60,000 patients in emergency departments and $185.7 million boost to ambulance services, delivering two new rescue helicopters, station upgrades and extra services. Treasurer John Lenders also announced $180 million of extra spending on maternity and child health services to cope with Victoria's highest birth rate since the early 1970s. “Extra funding for child-care is vital, especially in and around Eltham where we have more working mums than anywhere else in the state,” said Mr Herbert “$180 million for child and maternity care will help ensure parents in the fast growing suburbs have access to quality child care and maternal health services,” said Ms Green. 1st May 2008 Secondary Schools Receive Technical Equipment Grants Member for Eltham, Steve Herbert MP, today welcomed the announcement of a major funding boost to local Secondary Schools to assist them in maintaining and updating technical equipment. “This money will go towards equipping our schools with modern technology and will ensure they are able to continue producing outstanding results. “Giving our students the knowledge to ensure they are ready for work in the 21st century is vital,” Mr Herbert said. “Of the $15 million funding announcement, St Helena has topped the local area with $100,000 for new equipment,” Mr Herbert said Funding is determined on secondary enrolments and Vocational Education and Training in Schools enrolments “This funding recognises some of the fantastic vocational and technical education going on in our schools. “Technical skills are highly valued amongst employers, so giving students the opportunity to go down the technical path increases their choice when they hit the workforce. “Whether it be for new innovative subjects focussing on design, or more traditional trades such as automotive, this funding will provide state of the art equipment for our local schools,” Mr Herbert said. Danielle Green MP, Member for Yan Yean, believes “Investment like this will help ensure our local schools continue to provide fantastic education to our kids.” “The State Government has made it clear that education is an absolute priority and technical skills are in huge demand. “This funding is another step towards achieving the State Government’s target of 90% of young people completing Year 12 or its equivalent by 2010,” Ms Green said. With these grants schools can purchase, hire, refurbish or maintain technical equipment used in Technology Studies, Vocational and Education Training in Schools (VET) or similar programs. This funding announcement comes soon after the State Government set up a high level Ministerial Advisory Council for Mathematics and Science Education which is chaired by Mr Herbert who is also the Parliamentary Secretary for Education. 27th March 2008 Local VCE Students Work to be Showcased at National Gallery of Victoria A number of talented local students have had their creative work chosen to be in the ‘Top Arts: VCE 2007’ display at the National Gallery of Victoria. State Member for Eltham, Steve Herbert, is delighted to see talented local students continuing the strong artistic flare that is a cornerstone of local life. “It’s terrific to see local students excelling at a wide range of artistic endeavours. “Our local area has a strong and proud tradition of producing some terrifically talented artists and it heartening to see this tradition shows no sign of wavering. “To have a piece of art displayed at the Nation Gallery of Victoria is a great achievement, and I’m proud to say 4 local students have accomplished this honour,” Mr Herbert said. Top Arts is part of the VCE Season of Excellence, a three-month long festival celebrating the talent and creativity of VCE students, and includes Top Screen, Top Class, Top Design and Top Acts. Fiona Coath, Stephanie-Lee Moulin, Alexandra Sciubba and Verity Willmott were chosen to display works from more than 2,000 submissions from Government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria. “The high standard of work is a credit to the students, and the teachers and parents who have supported them in their creative pursuits,” said Mr Herbert. The ‘Top Arts: VCE 2007’ was opened on March 26 by Education Minister Bronwyn Pike at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Between November 2006 and August 2007 Steve was the Parliamentary Secretary for Environment.
Here are a selection of media releases from his time in the Environment portfolio.
Land and Biodiversity at a Time of Climate Change
22 March 2007
Victorians Urged to Muck in and Clean Up
Victorians Urged to Plunge into "Summer by the Sea"
Local Projects Share in $3.4 million Landcare Grants - East Gippsland
LOCAL MP GETS THE NOD FROM PREMIER FOR KEY POSITION
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