The Department of Education and Training (DET) is working to make up for the disruption of the pandemic by re-engaging kids in the extracurricular activities they loved before COVID-19.
Announced by Premier, Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education, James Merlino, the Positive Start in 2022 initiative is to support primary and secondary school students to enjoy a range of additional camps, sporting programs and cultural experiences.
Mr Andrews said additional camps would be delivered to benefit 81,200 students during school holidays and 2022 school terms.
“The Program will focus on students from Government and low-fee non-Government schools who have been most affected by COVID-19 school closures – as well as students and schools that might otherwise be unable to participate in an outdoor education or camp program,” he said.
The Premier said the DET Initiative would also provide access to a broad range of arts, sporting and cultural experiences for students at every Government and low-fee non-Government school in Victoria.
“From Sovereign Hill to the NGV, Melbourne Zoo and sporting workshops with the AFL, the Program will provide more than 325,000, fully-subsidised places for students across the various programs – boosting kids’ motivation and helping them rebuild their connections with friends, teachers and communities,” he said.
Mr Andrews said more than 690,000 swimming and water safety lessons for students at Government and Catholic primary schools would also be available to make sure students were not left behind, without the vital skills they needed to stay safe around water.
Further information about the initiative and how schools can access Positive Start programs and experiences for 2022 is expected to be available in Term 1.
