Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has welcomed $3 million in funding for a new educational facility at Cherbourg State School.
The investment is one of three priority infrastructure projects totalling $19 million announced today as part of the first round of the Crisafulli Government’s ongoing Closing the Gap Priorities Fund.
The money will support an upgrade to the Cherbourg State School’s Buwu program, an alternative to school suspensions, ensuring students keep up with the curriculum while learning progressive behavioural strategies.
The Closing the Gap Priorities Fund redirects previous Path to Treaty funding into practical, frontline projects for discrete and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Deb said she had been advocating for Cherbourg State School and was pleased to announce the funding.
“After hearing Principal McLean’s concerns last year about the program being held off campus, I was determined to help bring this facility to fruition,” Deb said.
“The building will allow suspended students to remain on campus and stay on track with their learning.
“Since the program was introduced just over two years ago, Cherbourg State School has reduced their lost school days, due to school disciplinary absences, from 1,000 to under 50, which is an incredible achievement,” she said.
The building will create a more consistent school environment for the students, while they are temporarily removed from their classroom.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said there were many critical infrastructure projects identified by local communities that had been left unfunded under Labor.
“We are committed to engaging with leaders of our discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to help address their key needs,” Minister Simpson said.
