Camp Brumby plan to boost teens

Victorian Premier John Brumby has promised free school camps for every year nine
student as part of a broad plan to boost the prospects of impressionable teenagers.
Year nine students would also be taught personal development skills, like how to
manage finances and drug and alcohol awareness, under a full-term program to smooth
their transition from childhood to responsible adults.
In a policy launch focused on education and training from toddlers to teenagers, Mr
Brumby pledged $208 million over four years for the life experience program.
The funding would enable each of Victoria's 38,000 year nine state school students
to participate in free two-week school camps, similar to those enjoyed by private
school pupils.
One in three schools would take part in the program in 2011/12, with the remainder
coming on board by the end of 2014.
Flanked by Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the ALP's official campaign launch in
Bendigo, Mr Brumby said the program would give teenagers life skills and values to
help them become responsible adults.
"This isn't about tinkering at the edges - this is about changing the curriculum and
changing it profoundly so that our year nines are properly equipped to meet the
world that awaits them."
The funding equates to about $2000 per student.
The program would feature lessons on career counselling, volunteering, bushfire
awareness, first aid and advanced water safety.
It would also include opportunities for cultural and outdoor activities, like arts
workshops, hiking, and scuba diving.
City-country exchange camps would be free, but parents would pay costs if schools
decided on more expensive trips.
The promise was part of a suite of education and training policies announced by the
premier as he talked up providing for the next generation and the need to invest
"the proceeds of today's growth for tomorrow's prosperity".
Other announcements included:
- $100 million for 10,000 more kindergarten places
- $48 million to support children with a disability or developmental delay
- $24 million to support 4000 more apprenticeships
Opposition campaign spokesman David Davis said the camp promise was "a bizarre
election gimmick".
"We have serious problems in education that John Brumby has neglected for years
including failures in curriculum, poor educational standards, bullying and violence
in schools," he said.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) and adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg
welcomed the program.
Dr Carr-Gregg said year nine was a "psychological no-man's land" and leadership
programs that included anger management, conflict resolution and decision-making
skills would be valuable.
AEU state secretary Mary Bluett said the program would help keep secondary school
students engaged.
"There are some schools already doing programs like this but stretching their own
budgets to try and cover it because of the importance of the program," she said.
Former Labor premiers Steve Bracks, John Cain and Joan Kirner attended the launch in
the seat of Bendigo East, where senior minister Jacinta Allan is under siege.