Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards has turned the first sod on an $8.9 million capital works project at Bendigo Special Developmental School (SDS), that will upgrade and modernise the school and provide even more opportunities for students.
The project was funded in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 and will deliver brand-new classrooms and learning spaces, giving around 150 students better learning opportunities through purpose-built facilities that meet their needs.
With construction now under way, students and teachers at Bendigo SDS will be able to use their new facilities from Term 1, 2026.
“This upgrade will deliver modern, purpose-built classrooms and learning spaces, so students at Bendigo Special Developmental School can achieve their full potential and teachers can help them thrive," Ms Edwards said.
“I’ve been proud to work with staff, school council members and students to secure the funding for this project, and I can’t wait to see the benefits this will bring for the whole school community.”
Students at Bendigo SDS can also look forward to a new outdoor health and physical education hub, funded by $303,125 from the 2020 Minor Capital Works Fund. The hub will open in early 2025.
The projects at Bendigo SDS are part of a broader initiative by the Labor Government to upgrade 36 special schools across Victoria over 4 years. Funded by a $326 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2022/23, the upgrades will create modern and supportive learning spaces for students with additional needs.
Over the past decade, the Labor Government has invested $16.9 billion to build new schools and undertake more than 2,200 school upgrades across Victoria.
This substantial investment has not only improved educational facilities in the Education State, it has supported more than 26,000 jobs in construction and associated industries.