BANMIRA Specialist School currently operates across two campuses, with primary school children at the new campus, and senior grades at the old campus on Verney Road, while it awaits further investment to complete the upgrade, since stage 1 was completed in 2024.
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has urged the Victorian government to commit full funding in the 2026-27 state budget to complete the redevelopment of Banmira Specialist School’s new campus.
Ms Lovell recently met with Banmira’s school council president to discuss the school’s progress and is concerned about students who last year moved from the Verney Road campus to the new campus as primary students.
“Under the Allan Labor Government, the school has been spread across two locations, which does not provide the best learning environment for children with special needs who learn best when they have regular routines and familiar surroundings,” said Ms Lovell.
Banmira caters for students with intellectual disabilities and special needs, who need stability in their environment to feel at ease and able to participate. Disruption to the learning environment can cause a significant impact on the students.
Ms Lovell spoke in parliament yesterday to urge the Minister for Education to take into consideration the educational and personal cost suffered by students due to the split between campuses and fully fund the complete redevelopment of buildings and facilities at the new campus of Banmira Specialist School in the 2026-27 state budget.
