Funding for Monash in Victorian Budget

Monash University has been allocated up to $37 million in education and research projects in the latest Victorian state budget.

Treasurer John Lenders MP announced the funding initiatives, contained in the 2008/09 State budget, on 6 May.

Monash University will work in conjunction with the State government to design and build a $20 million Sir John Monash Science School, which will be located at the Clayton campus.

The science school will be at the forefront of innovative research and learning and advanced science teacher training, and aims to benefit students in every Victorian secondary school.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said the John Monash Science School was the culmination of more than five years of planning and cooperation between the University and colleagues from the Victorian Education Department.

"It will be a fully operational specialist secondary school -- covering Years 10, 11 and 12 -- and will focus on the crucial disciplines of Science, Mathematics and Associated Technologies," Professor Shoemaker said.

"The School will be built in a very prominent location on Wellington Road, less than 100 metres from the University's own Science and Medicine Faculties.

"Education, research and mentoring will work in both directions between the partners.

"The JMSS will not just benefit its students, who will be chosen for their aptitude and motivation in these crucial subject areas, It will also provide a key focus for the professional development of Science and Mathematics teachers throughout the whole of Victoria and potentially throughout Australia with the implementation of the new national curriculum model from 2011."

Professor Shoemaker said it was particularly pleasing that the JMSS would form a key element of the Monash Passport approach to education, which is being launched this year.

"This means that Monash will - by the time the School opens in 2010 - have the most far-reaching secondary school enhancement program of any University in Australia," Professor Shoemaker said.

"This will be just one element of our student-centred approach to learning and teaching.

"Other elements will be the most ambitious University-level Honours programs in the nation, a huge commitment to volunteering and pro bono work, and an massive global mobility program, integrating the University's campuses in Malaysia and South Africa and its study centre in Prato, Italy with all of its Australian-based operations."

Monash will also partner with the University of Melbourne and the State government to establish a new $5 million Climate Change Adaptation Research Centre which will examine how south east Australia can respond to issues surrounding climate change.

Projects will include developing adaptation strategies for the health, agricultural and infrastructure sectors, as well as programs that focus on regional communities and extreme events.

Specialist climate and adaptation scientist and Federation Fellow at Monash University Professor Amanda Lynch said the research program would boost Victoria's capacity to respond to challenges such as drought, bushfire and flood which were expected to increase in the near future.

"Some degree of climate change is inevitable," Professor Lynch said.

"However, Victorians have a wealth of experience in coping with our variable climate. We can harness that experience to meet this challenge.

"Early adaptation to climate change will put Victoria in a better position to cope socially and economically to a changing climate."

Professor Lynch said adaptation research was inherently place-based, relying on decisions taken at the state, territory and local level.

"The insights we gain at the centre will be used to support the National Climate Change Adaptation Framework," Professor Lynch said.

In other funding announcements $4.8 million will fund a pregnancy assessment unit at Monash Medical Centre Clayton. This will cater for an extra 200 births per year, improving antenatal management and increasing the capacity of the postnatal wards and birthing suites.

$19 million was also set aside to begin the first stages of Victoria's two new selective-entry schools, including one that will be built directly adjacent to Monash University's Berwick campus.

The Monash Council recently agreed to put aside land to the north of the campus for construction of the new co-educational school, which is expected to be up and running in 2010.

For more information contact Ms Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications, Monash University on +61 3 99034843 or 0448 574 148.