Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): Today I would like to draw attention to a wonderful school within my community, Thornbury Primary School.

Over the last two years I have had the immense pleasure of getting to know this strong and unique school as well as forming a close working relationship with its passionate leadership team.

When you walk through the gates at Thornbury Primary, one of the first things you will notice is how much their commitment to respect, inclusion and diversity permeates every aspect of their school.

Indigenous perspectives, history, culture and Koori language learning are infused throughout the curriculum in a way rarely seen within the education system and even reflected in their school uniforms.

A lovely partnership with students from Croxton special school allows students with an intellectual disability to spend time learning in the mainstream setting and be embraced as part of the Thornbury Primary family.

And Thornbury’s unique Steiner stream—one of only a handful in the public school system—caters to students who benefit from a slightly different way of learning and growing, with a focus on self-direction and creativity.

Each one of these programs is emblematic of what I love and admire about Thornbury Primary—from teachers to students to parents and school leaders, everyone is made to feel welcome and valued.

That is why it was my absolute pleasure to stand in front of the school assembly earlier in the year to announce that Thornbury Primary will receive $200 000 as part of the Victorian Labor government’s inclusive schools program for a new play space.

This will mean that their 30-year-old rusted and outdated playground is finally going to be replaced with brand new equipment and areas that every student, no matter their level of ability, can play and learn on.

It was an honour to support Thornbury Primary to access this grant. And now, as we look to the future, I’m looking forward to continuing to work alongside the school community to understand and elevate their needs and aspirations.

That includes backing their current application to the Minor Capital Works Fund for the repair and upgrade of student bathroom facilities, which have deteriorated significantly over time.

An upgrade and redesign of the bathrooms would not only deliver a substantial benefit to the students who use them but also align with Thornbury Primary’s longstanding commitment to ensuring every student has access to a safe and welcoming school environment.

While I cannot guarantee any outcome in a competitive grants round, I will continue to work hand in hand with Thornbury Primary on their vision for the future.