Mums (and Dads) recognised on Mothers’ Day with funding to key parents’ groups

• Queensland kids are the big winners on Mothers’ Day with key parents’ groups sharing $400,000 in additional funds to continue their work with school communities
• Four groups will receive an additional $100,000 each from the new Miles Labor Government to help make our schools even better places to learn.
• Recipients include P&Cs Qld, Isolated Children’s Parent’s Association Qld Inc, Catholic Schools Parents Qld, and the Qld Independent Schools Parents Network.

The Miles Government continues to support Queensland families with four key parents’ groups sharing an additional $400,000 on top of their usual funding.

Each organisation has long-established traditions of volunteering, fundraising and donations, and helping ease cost-of-living pressures impacting many Queensland families.

The Miles Labor Government commends the organisations for working with their schooling sectors to support thriving and successful education systems, and equitable opportunities for all students.

We will always support schools and those organisations who support them, especially the mums, dads and carers who go above and beyond to strengthen school communities,

It’s also worth noting on this Mother’s Day the Miles Labor Government has put mothers front and centre as it delivers for Queenslanders with a suite of measures since November last year, including:

• $1 billion Queensland Women and Girls’ Health Strategy
•  More than $42 million funding for reproduction treatments, like IVF, for people experiencing complex medical conditions such as cancer. 
• Ten days reproductive health leave for public sector workers, and superannuation contributions paid on all parental leave – paid and unpaid.
• More than $18 million boost for endometriosis providing improved access to clinical, surgical and rehabilitation services, peer support groups.
• $31 million for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus immunisation program for babies,
• New publicly funded homebirth service on the Sunshine Coast and new birthing services in Weipa,
• Giving Queensland women and girls aged 16 and older greater access to a range of contraceptives through their local pharmacy in order to reduce barriers to reproductive healthcare.
• and the imminent introduction of a one-midwife-to-six-patient ratio at public maternity wards that have high-level services.

The new Miles Government has also delivered for women more generally, especially women’s safety:

• Coercive control made a criminal offence and affirmative consent enshrined in law,
• a 20 per cent increase in funding for domestic, family, and sexual violence service providers,
• and $50 million towards Domestic and Family Violence initiatives.

This is in stark contrast to the LNP which cut tens of millions of dollars from domestic violence, reproductive health, and parenting services - and even tried to abolish Breastscreen Queensland.

Support for women will be put at risk under an LNP Government which refuses to say what it will cut to pay for the shortfall caused by getting rid of our progressive coal royalties which pay for things like the $1000 power rebate for Queenslanders. 

Quotes attributable to the Education Minister Di Farmer

“The partnership between parents, communities and Queensland schools is so important to each child’s education and to the future of our communities.

“Respectful and positive partnerships between parents and schools are the key. Your child, our student, one team.

“In addition to a range of cost-of-living measures our schools are implementing to respond to the needs of families, we want to support the organisations who traditionally rely on family donations or volunteering.” 

Quotes attributable to Isolated Children’s Parent’s Association Queensland President Wendy Henning:

“We are passionate about all children’s right to have equitable access to world-class education regardless of where they live and how their schooling is received.

“This support will help ICPA QLD continue to work advocating for all geographically isolated students to access equitable education opportunities.”

Quotes attributable to P&Cs Queensland Chair Donagh Freestun

“This will go a long way towards P&Cs Qld being able to help P&Cs support state schools to give every chid every chance in education and life.

“It is timely as we see more families struggling with cost-of-living and educational expenses turn to their P&Cs for help. P&Cs Qld acknowledges the vital support of the Queensland Government in recognising parents as partners in education.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Independent Schools Parents Network Executive Director Amanda Watt

“Today’s significant funding injection will boost the organisation’s advocacy efforts and the support they provide to independent schools in the crucial area of parent engagement.”

Quotes attributable to Catholic Schools Parents Qld Executive Director Carmel Nash:

“CSPQ is excited to receive this funding to support us in our work in engaging families in learning and wellbeing.

“The funds will allow us to develop curriculum connected resources so we can help build the capacity of families to support learning at home, particularly in literacy and numeracy.”

Media contact: Gary Shipway 0458 090906