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Victoria To Break New Ground With $9.2 Million Institute For The Deaf | Gov Monitor
A new $9.2 million deaf institute to be established in Melbourne – the first of its kind in Australia – is set to break new ground in teacher training and education.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand this week announced the new Victorian Deaf Education Institute would be co-located with the Victorian College for the Deaf and will be operating by next year.
Visiting the site this week, Ms Morand also provided a special surprise for students at the College, distributing 85 Apple iPads, one for every student attending the College.
“This is a double celebration – not only are we able to announce significant progress on the establishment of the Deaf Education Institute, we are also celebrating the extension of the Brumby Labor Government’s iPads for Learning trial to include special needs students,” Ms Morand said.
“It’s an exciting time for students enrolled at the Victorian College for the Deaf who will now have access to the latest digital equipment.
“From using Auslan applications on their iPad to reading interactive books, the iPads open up new opportunities for learning and discovery.
“There is growing evidence that students with special needs can benefit significantly from using digital technology to further their learning and we want to tap into that and give these students every opportunity to experience all the benefits of a hi-tech education.”
Ms Morand said the opening of the Victorian Deaf Education Institute also signaled an exciting time ahead.
“This new Institute was a State Budget commitment and will provide a centre for excellence for training teachers from across the state in deaf education,” Ms Morand said.
“Around 3000 Victorian school-aged children have a diagnosed hearing loss and it’s important that they have every opportunity to maximize their potential.
“Through this Institute, teachers from across the state will have the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications, hear from experts in the field or undertake further study, which will be delivered in conjunction with universities and tertiary providers.
“Some courses will start as early as March next year from existing facilities on-site with completion of the new facilities for the Institute expected to be completed by term four next year.
“Deaf and hearing impaired students face a range of unique challenges and it takes a special group of inspiring and dedicated teachers to understand these challenges and cater to their learning needs.
“That is why our Government is taking action and investing in this cutting-edge Institute that will deliver high-quality training and support for teachers working with deaf students in schools across the state.
“This Institute will provide a technology hub, allowing workshops and seminars to be beamed to teachers in remote and regional areas across Victoria, ensuring deaf and hearing impaired students get the best educational opportunities no matter where they live.
“This is another way the Brumby Government is supporting students with additional needs by delivering high-quality teacher training programs and sharing best practice.”
Member for Prahran Tony Lupton said the new Institute would be a centre of expertise in deaf education and enable research and community partnerships to be established.
“It is fantastic this Institute will be located in Prahran. By co-locating this cutting-edge Institute with the Victorian College for the Deaf we can benefit from their specialist education programs and expertise in the field of deaf education,” he said.
The $9.2 million centre is part of a $108.6 million Brumby Government package to provide children and young people with a disability every opportunity to achieve their full potential
A new $9.2 million deaf institute to be established in Melbourne – the first of its kind in Australia – is set to break new ground in teacher training and education.
Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand this week announced the new Victorian Deaf Education Institute would be co-located with the Victorian College for the Deaf and will be operating by next year.
Visiting the site this week, Ms Morand also provided a special surprise for students at the College, distributing 85 Apple iPads, one for every student attending the College.
“This is a double celebration – not only are we able to announce significant progress on the establishment of the Deaf Education Institute, we are also celebrating the extension of the Brumby Labor Government’s iPads for Learning trial to include special needs students,” Ms Morand said.
“It’s an exciting time for students enrolled at the Victorian College for the Deaf who will now have access to the latest digital equipment.
“From using Auslan applications on their iPad to reading interactive books, the iPads open up new opportunities for learning and discovery.
“There is growing evidence that students with special needs can benefit significantly from using digital technology to further their learning and we want to tap into that and give these students every opportunity to experience all the benefits of a hi-tech education.”
Ms Morand said the opening of the Victorian Deaf Education Institute also signaled an exciting time ahead.
“This new Institute was a State Budget commitment and will provide a centre for excellence for training teachers from across the state in deaf education,” Ms Morand said.
“Around 3000 Victorian school-aged children have a diagnosed hearing loss and it’s important that they have every opportunity to maximize their potential.
“Through this Institute, teachers from across the state will have the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications, hear from experts in the field or undertake further study, which will be delivered in conjunction with universities and tertiary providers.
“Some courses will start as early as March next year from existing facilities on-site with completion of the new facilities for the Institute expected to be completed by term four next year.
“Deaf and hearing impaired students face a range of unique challenges and it takes a special group of inspiring and dedicated teachers to understand these challenges and cater to their learning needs.
“That is why our Government is taking action and investing in this cutting-edge Institute that will deliver high-quality training and support for teachers working with deaf students in schools across the state.
“This Institute will provide a technology hub, allowing workshops and seminars to be beamed to teachers in remote and regional areas across Victoria, ensuring deaf and hearing impaired students get the best educational opportunities no matter where they live.
“This is another way the Brumby Government is supporting students with additional needs by delivering high-quality teacher training programs and sharing best practice.”
Member for Prahran Tony Lupton said the new Institute would be a centre of expertise in deaf education and enable research and community partnerships to be established.
“It is fantastic this Institute will be located in Prahran. By co-locating this cutting-edge Institute with the Victorian College for the Deaf we can benefit from their specialist education programs and expertise in the field of deaf education,” he said.
The $9.2 million centre is part of a $108.6 million Brumby Government package to provide children and young people with a disability every opportunity to achieve their full potential
