PEET grant for - Meerilinga Young Children's Foundation

11/4/98

Four local projects - three involving the publishing of books and one the production of a video - have received grants from a special trust fund which supports innovative educational programs developed to benefit Western Australian students.

Education Minister Colin Barnett announced today that Meerilinga Young Children's Foundation has received $18,000 for a video project designed to help students considered to be 'at risk' or who have behaviour problems.

Scitech Discovery Centre will provide teachers with a free resource book on its new Discoverland exhibition as a result of its grant of $1,700.

A grant of $6,000 was also made to Dr David Mossenson and Dr Ken Evans to write a book titled State Education in WA 1960 - 1990, while West Leederville Primary School received $1,000 for a project that is involving students, parents, staff and the community in the writing and publishing a book to celebrate the school's centenary.

They are among 22 programs developed by schools, community groups and individuals who have received a total of $109,000 in grants this year.

Mr Barnett said that the funding was provided from the Public Education Endowment Trust (PEET), which was established in 1909 to support outstanding educational programs that help a wide cross-section of students.

Mr Barnett, who is chairman of the Trust, said the grants were made in four categories aimed at:

·      developing school and community links;

·      improving early childhood education;

·      assisting geographically isolated and disadvantaged students; or -

·      supporting students with disabilities.

The Minister said all of the programs were excellent examples of the innovative work being undertaken to provide the best possible education for young WA students.

The Meerilinga project centred on the production of a high quality video and supporting resource material to demonstrate how learning through play could support, teach and help the development of appropriate social skills in young children.

Mr Barnett said it was anticipated the video would be made available to schools, universities, parents and the wider community to use in training programs, workshops, lectures and home viewing.

The Minister said the grant to Scitech would enable the centre to provide copies of a workbook free to visiting school and childcare groups.

The book was developed to provide teachers, parents and carers with a broad selection of appropriate activities that could be carried out at home or school, following a visit to Discoverland.

Discoverland was designed to meet the special needs of children aged from three to seven years.

The book planned by former Education Director-General Dr David Mossenson and Dr Ken Evans was planned as a sequel to State Education in WA 1829-1960, written by Dr Mossenson and published in 1972 by the University of Western Australia Press.

The new work will detail the main influences on the school system since 1960, including both Federal and State Government policy changes.

Mr Barnett said that in contrast to the State and system-wide view, this book, would be the snapshot of a single school in a year book planned by West Leederville Primary School.

The former school of such prominent Australians as former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, West Leederville was steeped in history and had maintained its traditional character over its 100 years.

The book would depict the history of the school and the development of the area that surrounded it. It would include background information on former students, work by current students and photographs.

Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister's office, (08) 9222 9699 Penny Valentine, Education Department, (08) 9264 5348