Victorian students are receiving extra support to enhance their skills. Photo: Study Victoria.
The Victorian Labor Government is aiming to enhance the education system with a new range of programs designed to give advanced students new learning opportunities.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll announced that academically gifted students would gain access to a range of free programs to challenge them and build on their knowledge.
The government estimates that 30,000 high-ability students from Prep to Year 12 will benefit from extra activities offering engaging and challenging opportunities.
The government will partner with 34 leading non-profit and educational institutions to deliver practical learning experiences in subjects including dance, music, sports science, 3D printing, innovation, sustainability, botany, entomology, writing, coding and philosophy.
“Victoria’s brightest students come from all walks of life, and I am proud that our government continues to provide them with opportunities to extend their learning through free enrichment programs and challenges,” Mr Carroll said.
“Participating students will have access to outstanding education and not-for-profit experts in 2026 that will nurture their curiosity and love of learning.”
Activities across the state will take the form of incursions, excursions, masterclasses, design challenges, leadership summits and online tutorials. These activities will receive support from organisations such as Deakin University, the Arts Centre and the Mathematical Association of Victoria.
The program is an initiative of the Student Excellence Program, being delivered under the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series. Schools will be able to register students for the program, or refer them to it, from the beginning of Term 1 in 2026.
All of the programs will be free.
The government has already invested $24.6 million to continue the program throughout 2026, including $2.4 million for students to participate in the enrichment series, providing a range of activities across the curriculum.
In addition, $155.4 million has been invested in the Student Excellence Program, while the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series received $11.9 million.
More than 200,000 students across Victoria have taken part in opportunities to learn and sharpen their skills since the program’s establishment.
