Ms Libby Coker MP
Member for Corangamite

Staff and students at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Bannockburn in Bannockburn will benefit from a new learning centre and basketball court, which will improve student educational outcomes.

Member for Corangamite Libby Coker said work on the project will be delivered with support of Australian Government funding of $3,800,000 through the Capital Grants Program.

“These new facilities will provide school staff, teachers and students at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Bannockburn with better, more modern spaces in which to work, teach and learn,” Ms Coker said.

“The Australian Government is committed to providing all schools with appropriate funding so that all students, including those at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Bannockburn, get the best possible education.”

Ms Coker said the new facilities will benefit the students currently at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Bannockburn, as well as the many students who will follow in future years.

“The teachers, staff and students at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Bannockburn have built a strong and positive school community and these new facilities will further enhance our local educational opportunities,” Ms Coker said.

“Our Government strongly believes in providing the best possible resources so that local students can realise their potential and develop the skills they need to go on to further study or to find a job.

“I congratulate St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Bannockburn on their successful grant application and look forward to seeing the positive impact these new facilities will have on the school community.”

St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School Principal Anthony Drill welcomed the funding. “St Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary school has grown from 65 children in 2018 to 370 for 2023. We are fast running out of rooms as we grow,” Mr Drill said.

“The funding provided by the federal government is very exciting as it will allow us to build our new double story learning centre for our Year 3-6 children and will eventually give us space for over 500 children.

“The community is very grateful for this funding,” Mr Drill said.

More information about the Capital Grants Program can be found at https://www.education.gov.au/payments-and-grants-schools/capital-grants-non-government-schools.