As principal of Benalla Flexible Learning Centre, one of four alternative education schools run by Wodonga Secondary College, Liberal candidate for Euroa Brad Hearn is passionate about quality education for country Victorian kids.
The flexible learning centres are designed for students that have stopped attending mainstream schooling and won’t go back. As principal, Mr Hearn sees the students that have fallen through the cracks of the state schooling system.
“Some have battles with mental health, others have suffered chronic bullying; the system is broken in rural education and the options aren’t there,” he said.
“One model doesn’t work in country towns, people need choice in education.”
He knows first-hand the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to learning.
“Parents and students need to have choice in their educational options — where they learn, what they learn, and the opportunities need to be local,” he said.
Mr Hearn believes there is a divide between the educational opportunities for kids in the city as opposed to those in the country.
“Directly or not, students who can afford to pay for education end up having choice in their schooling and those without funds are left to wade through the experimental ‘one school’ mergers experienced in the state,” he said.
Mr Hearn believes this is part of the reason students are exiting the public schooling system in regional areas.
“This has occurred in Seymour, this has occurred in Benalla and now the latest victims are those of the Greater Shepparton Secondary College,” he said.
In August 2019, the Federal Government released an independent review into national regional, rural and remote education.
The review found there were significant differences in educational opportunities for rural students compared to their urban counterparts.
Recommendations included establishing a process to ensure the relevance of the curriculum for regional students, ensuring access to work experience and VET programs, aiding students in the transition to university, and establishing a national focus for rural regional and remote education, training and research to improve outcomes for students.
Mr Hearn says it is time the review was put into action, with additional supports to achieve a fairer share of resourcing.
He also believes that a commissioner for rural and regional schools would help ensure these schools got their fair share.
“This review can assist in addressing the variances in the delivery of service, staff conditions and students’ access to quality free education,” he said.
“Not until action on the formal review of rural and regional public education is done will we know the significant disadvantage that is occurring not only in the seat of Euroa but also across the other regional areas.
“The city and metro spilt in resources has impacted communities for decades, it is systemic, and it is time for it to stop.
“I think people are after change, we have been a safe seat for quite some time, and we are seeing that in our healthcare infrastructure, roads and schools.
“I’m really passionate about being a voice for change and a loud squeaky wheel in Parliament.”