Unlike other years, preparing for the return back to school this year looked quite different.
As parents we picked up the necessary lunchbox items on our back-to-school grocery shop, like bread (which most of us know is around $3.00 a loaf) and Vegemite, of course.
But instead of just picking up new uniforms or heading to Officeworks for stationary, parents and children across NSW also had to prepare for school by putting masks in school bags and doing a bi-weekly Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT).
It was yet another reminder that this is our new normal.
It has been an especially trying year or two for our kids: missing out on formals, excursions, birthday parties and sporting events.
But coming out of the pandemic, we shouldn’t just build back after COVID — we must build back stronger and smarter.
As parents, we want the very best future for our children. We want to give them the opportunities we didn’t have growing up.
But to ensure the opportunities of tomorrow, we have to start planning today.
That same week Labor announced our Schools Upgrade Fund and Student Wellbeing Boost.
We’ll provide schools with extra funding to get children’s mental health and wellbeing back on track, with more school counsellors and psychologists and extra funding for camps, excursions, as well as sporting and social activities that improve kids’ wellbeing.
Labor will also have the education department conduct a rapid review of the impact of COVID on students with disability, so they get the support they need.
Students deserve better infrastructure at schools, and a Government that supports their mental wellbeing.
We believe no student should be left behind.
We are dedicated to providing these opportunities for all children, especially coming out of this pandemic.
Only Labor has a plan to make that happen for our kids.
Michelle Rowland is Shadow Minister for Communications Federal Member for Greenway. Visit: www.michellerowland.com.au
