Friday, 28 February, 2025

Students with special needs should have the same opportunities as every other student in Victoria – and the Allan Labor Government is building the facilities necessary to make that happen.

Local Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes today celebrated the opening of a new contemporary campus for Wangaratta District Specialist School, located next to Benalla P-12 College.

Wangaratta District Specialist School services the North Eastern region of Victoria catering for students with mild to severe intellectual and associated disabilities from 5-18 years old.

The school services Benalla, Myrtleford, Ovens and King Valleys, Rutherglen, Wahgunyah, and Wangaratta districts, transporting students via bus.

The school has been received close to $7million in funding over the past five years for the project.

This significant project includes a new single-storey building for local students to learn from. Plus, curved masonry walls and a structural steel frame and roof structure. The large building includes 5 classrooms, an art/science space and a PE room.

The campus also houses office and administration spaces and bathroom amenities, junior and senior outdoor play areas with modern playgrounds and landscaping.

The Government has invested $16.9 billion over the past 10 years to build new schools and deliver more than 2,200 school upgrades − supporting more than 26,000 jobs in construction and associated industries. 

The Victorian Budget 2024/25 invested $947.7 million to build 16 more new schools – completing the promise to deliver 100 new schools between 2019 and 2026. 

Quotes attributable to Local Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes

“We’re giving every Victorian child the best opportunities - and that starts with making sure every student has the facilities they need to learn and grow, no matter what school they attend.”

"I am thrilled to be touring the new campus at Wangaratta District Specialist School today. These state-of-the-art new buildings are ensuring students from across our region get the very best education close to home.”