February news 2024

February

Schools across the State can share in up to $300,000 in funding to deliver projects that promote the health and wellbeing of their students and school community.

For more information, refer to Funding support for health and wellbeing in WA schools.

The Cook Government's investment in fee-free TAFE training is supporting thousands of Western Australian students to kick off their training in 2024 and prepare for skilled jobs in priority sectors.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Thousands of students head back to TAFE fee-free in 2024.

Premier Roger Cook and Education Minister Tony Buti today officially opened $31.7 million in upgrades at Karratha Senior High School.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Major upgrades delivered at Karratha Senior High School.

 

March 2024 news

March

An award-winning initiative in the Pilbara is set to benefit more students with a $7 million, five-year expansion to improve education outcomes and opportunities.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Woodside partnership to benefit Pilbara students.

The awards cover all fields of science including natural, medical, applied and technological science, engineering and mathematics.

For more information refer to the media statement – Premier's Science Awards spotlight scientific excellence.

Families in WA with school-age children will receive hundreds of dollars of financial support. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government to ease cost of living for WA families.

The Deadly Jobs Expo visited Fitzroy Crossing to connect job seekers in the region with local training and job opportunities. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Jobs expo another step for the future of Fitzroy Valley.

New facilities opened at South Bunbury Education Support Centre. The $3.3 million upgrades were built to support kindergarten and pre-primary students.

For more information, refer to the media statement – New facilities open at South Bunbury Education Support Centre.

Central Regional TAFE's Kalgoorlie campus received a new $10 million state-of-the-art heavy plant workshop. The facilities will support in-demand heavy plant mechanic and engineering trades in the region. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – $10 million trade training workshop opens at Kalgoorlie TAFE.

BHP has extended their Pilbara Education Partnership for a further 12 months. They have committed $3 million towards the extension.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Multimillion-dollar investment boosts BHP education partnership in the Pilbara

April 2024 news

April

Youth Week WA ran from 5 to 12 April 2024, with celebrations kicking off in Albany. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – You(th) are the future: Youth Week WA kicks off.

There will be a $10 million investment made towards improving safety at warden-controlled school crossings across the state. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – $10 million investment to improve school crossing safety

The Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) program provides funding to schools and kindergartens in WA to support the advancement of Aboriginal reconciliation.

For more information, refer to the media statement – School funding to advance the journey of Aboriginal reconciliation

A $7.1 million Community Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service hub has been opened in Bunbury. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Children's community mental health hub opens in the South West.

Faster internet will be provided to hundreds of WA public schools to increase teaching and learning opportunities for staff and students. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Faster internet for hundreds of WA public schools.

Western Australian families with school-age children have received hundreds of dollars in financial assistance.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Claims open for WA Student Assistance Payment

Rio Tinto will provide a further three years of funding support for the State Library of Western Australia-led Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program.

For more information, refer to the media statement – State Library's Better Beginnings partnership strengthens literacy.

More than 30 public schools in Western Australia have opened new science classrooms to help primary school students develop essential skills for the future.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Hundreds of WA schools benefiting from new science facilities.

Free period products will be provided to WA public schools, as part of an ongoing commitment to supporting student health and wellbeing. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Free period products for WA public primary schools

An investment of $3.3 million will be used to establish a specialist School of Swimming and Water Safety to continue to deliver swimming programs to WA students. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – New specialist swim school to strengthen vital student programs

$580,000 in new equipment installed at Central Regional TAFE's Geraldton Campus. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Unveiling $580,000 in modern equipment at Geraldton TAFE

New trades workshops open as part of State Government's $48.9 million investment at North Regional TAFE's Pundulmurra (South Hedland) campus. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – New $43.2 million training facilities open at Pundulmurra TAFE

Under Round 2 of the Schools Upgrade Fund, 13 public schools across Western Australia will each benefit from funding of at least $250,000 to build or upgrade infrastructure.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Joint media statement - Extra infrastructure funding for Western Australian public schools.

May 2024 news

May

The West Australian Department of Education's Director General Lisa Rodgers is leaving to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

For more information, refer to the media statement – Education Director General to lead national research council.

Three not-for-profit organisations are set to share in $765,000 from the Cook Government to support employment opportunities for Western Australians with disability in regional areas.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Grants to support employment opportunities for people with disability in regional WA.

Three not-for-profit community organisations have been awarded nearly $2.9 million in funding to develop and deliver new initiatives and models of service that support and strengthen Early Childhood Education and Care services across regional Western Australia.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Funding for Early Childhood Education and Care in regional WA.

The Cook Labor Government and Minderoo Foundation will continue investing in better outcomes for WA children, with an injection of $34.6 million for the Early Years Partnership.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Budget boost to partnership delivering better outcomes for children.

Significant cost of living relief while investing in health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs and targeted training programs.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Labor Government delivering on what matters to regional WA.

2024-25 State Budget includes a total of $6.8 billion for education in 2024-25.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Record investment in education for young Western Australians.

2024-25 State Budget includes $195 million in new spending to build the State's skilled workforce and help more Western Australians into jobs

For more information, refer to the media statement – $195 million training boost to get more West Aussies into jobs

The Goldfields and Esperance will receive cost of living relief through housing projects, upgrades to water and power infrastructure and outdoor attractions. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Goldfields and Esperance.

The Gascoyne will receive cost of living relief, investment in health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs and targeted training programs. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Gascoyne

The Kimberley will receive significant cost of living relief and investments in transport infrastructure, community services and upgrades to outdoor attractions.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Kimberley.

The Great Southern will receive cost of living relief as well as investments in mental health supports and services, infrastructure upgrades, housing programs and new outdoor attractions.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Great Southern

The 2024-25 State Budget will deliver significant cost of living relief and investments in health facilities and services, housing, infrastructure and outdoor attractions.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Mid West.

The 2024-25 State Budget will deliver significant cost of living relief and housing support, and investments in the redevelopment of Bunbury Hospital, upgrades to the Bunbury Port and new outdoor attractions in the region.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the South West.

The 2024-25 State Budget will deliver significant cost of living relief and investments in health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs, port infrastructure and new outdoor attractions.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Pilbara.

The 2024-25 State Budget will deliver significant cost of living relief and investments in health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs, and targeted training programs.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for the Wheatbelt

The 2024-25 State Budget will deliver significant cost of living relief and investments in health facilities and services, housing, quality jobs and targeted training programs.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government delivering on what matters for Peel.

There has been an additional $224.3 million investment made towards supporting public school students who have a diagnosed disability or other special learning needs. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – $224.3 million dollar investment to support students with special needs

An additional $1.230 million per year will be allocated to the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Community Languages Program.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Significant funding boost for Community Languages Program

The Eexpert review of senior secondary school pathways was released for public consultation. 

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government releases blueprint for senior secondary pathways.

June 2024

June

The Cook Government is supporting the expansion of the pioneering Aboriginal Pastoral Academy into the East Kimberley, helping build career pathways for young Aboriginal people in the State's north.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Aboriginal Pastoral Academy expands across Kimberley.

The Cook Government today announced the appointment of an expert panel to guide a review of the School Education Act 1999 and provide recommendations to strengthen access and inclusion for students with disability.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Expert panel appointed to strengthen disability support for students

The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are jointly investing $70.5 million over five years to establish Australia's first TAFE Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence in Western Australia.

For more information, refer to the media statement – WA to host first TAFE Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence

The State Government is backing the successful work of Aboriginal rangers with a $16.5 million investment in the latest round of the Aboriginal Ranger Program.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Aboriginal rangers to benefit from $16.5 million in funding

A number of new facilities at Derby District High School have been completed as part of a major redevelopment to improve the school's infrastructure.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Major redevelopment at Derby District High School on track

July 2024

July

The Cook Labor Government will provide an additional $185 for eligible secondary school students to assist with school uniform costs, increasing cost of living support for school students from low-income families to $535 a year.

For more information, refer to the media statement – $9.5 million boost to help WA families with school uniform costs

The Cook Government will provide $500,000 to WA-based charity Give Write to support its work distributing new and recycled stationery to school children in need, so they can get the best out of their education.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Cook Government donation to give write to school kids in need

Funding of more than $1.2 million dollars is being provided to Western Australia's Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector through the Preschool Reform Agreement (PRA), to develop and maintain quality preschool programs.

For more information, refer to the media statement – $1.2 million in funding for Early Childhood organisations now open

The Cook Government today confirmed significant investment in public education under a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (Agreement).

For more information, refer to the media statement – Teachers receive pay rise as part of big investment into education

Western Australians continue to jump at opportunities from the Cook Government's investment in affordable training, with a new record high of over 153,800 publicly funded vocational course enrolments recorded in 2023.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Training enrolments reach new highs thanks to fee free TAFE

Initiatives that support workers to upskill, help with relocation costs and subsidise housing are among the recipients of a Cook Government grant program to help attract and retain early childhood educators in regional Western Australia.

For more information, refer to the media statement – Local governments awarded grants to attract early childhood educators to regional WA