Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (18:22): One of the great joys of being the local member is visiting our local schools. I am always delighted to meet with inspiring students and dedicated teachers. Whether it is opening a new Liberty Swing at Passfield Park School, making falafel at Curran Public School or meeting young champions in robotics at Ingleburn Public School, our local schools are always a cause for much celebration. This week is Public Education Week, and this year's theme is "Ignite your potential". It is an opportunity to showcase the many achievements of our New South Wales public schools. I am proud to add that I am a proud product of our wonderful public education system. I still have many fond memories of my time at Robert Townson Public School and also Robert Townson High School in Raby in south-west Sydney.
The Public Education Foundation's annual awards were held last night, and I am proud to report that a number of public schools in my electorate were recognised. I offer my congratulations to Ajuga School, which received the Secretary's Award for Outstanding School Achievement for its Green Guardians initiative. The school has been working with the Georges River Environmental Education Centre to offer environmental education activities for its students, and this has resulted in some fabulous outcomes. Ajuga School is one of only 24 schools in Australia to receive the internationally recognised Eco-Schools Green Flag award, which is an outstanding achievement. Ajuga School supports students with a complex trauma background and/or autism. Many of the students have previously had attendance concerns and have found our normal schools very difficult. The school's sustainability program and Green Guardians initiative is one of many programs the school has created to support its students at school, leading to higher rates of engagement. Ajuga School is also excited about its upcoming Tiny Forest project. Ajuga will be one—possibly the first—school that Earthwatch has approved for this project. I congratulate Ajuga School and highly commend principal Leah Smileski, the staff, students and all those involved.
James Meehan High School also received the Secretary's Award for Outstanding School Achievement for its Middle School and Innovative Transition Program. The exemplary program helps students to transition from primary to high school. The Middle School features homerooms and a strong learning culture, and fosters collaboration and enhanced teacher practice with a focus on building relationships between teachers and students. The result is rising enrolments, progressive NAPLAN growth and greater pride in the school. I congratulate principal Tim Bordado and staff and students at James Meehan on this wonderful award and the school's commitment to delivering excellence in public education.
The Public Education Foundation also recognises excellence in the teaching profession. Again, schools in my local electorate were among the awardees. They included Marc James from Curran Public School, who received the Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching; Mark Peruzzo from Sarah Redfern High School, who received the Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching; and Chloe Baumann, also from Sarah Redfern High School, who received the Secretary's Award for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. I also take this opportunity to congratulate Lyndy Clowry, principal of Sarah Redfern High School in Minto, who was recently awarded the Excellence in Education Award by the Teachers' Guild of NSW. Ms Danielle Lloyd, Sarah Redfern High School's deputy principal, instructional leadership, achieved a notable award from the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, winning the New South Wales Individual Leadership Award for 2025. They are all wonderful achievements, indeed.
Every day there are so many fabulous success stories from our local public schools. I commend our dedicated teachers, our hardworking students and our committed families for supporting students to reach their full potential. The Minns Labor Government is investing an additional $50 million in the 2025-26 New South Wales budget to provide upgrades to deliver high-potential and gifted education programs that will extend student learning across a range of subjects, including three schools in my local electorate: Casula High School, James Meehan High School and Sarah Redfern High School. The investment in science labs, creative spaces and performance areas will help students explore and develop their talents in a supportive and enriched learning environment. Gifted and talented students will have access to first-class facilities at their local public school that will enhance their learning and open the door to a world of opportunities. The Irish poet William Butler Yeats said, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." With our local public schools achieving such wonderful success, the future is indeed extremely bright.
