Formation of Education Trust Victoria

Education Minister Phil Gude has announced the formation of a trust to support school education in Victoria.

The new trust, to be known as Education Trust Victoria, will be chaired by businessman Mr Alister Maitland.

Victoria is the first state in Australia to establish such a body.

Consultations with schools on the Schools of the Third Millennium Project revealed that schools were keen for such a body to assist them to establish links with business and the wider community.

Programs run by the Trust will include scholarships for teachers and school council members, and collaborative ventures with other government departments and agencies to further the educational possibilities for Victorian students. It will also assist schools to benefit from sponsorships and other forms of philanthropy.

The Education Trust Victoria is a non-profit company limited by guarantee. It has a "tax-exempt" status, which it is hoped will encourage donations for the support of public education from organisations, individuals, small businesses and corporations.

Victoria already has a strong relationship with two similar trusts overseas: the Technology Colleges Trust in the United Kingdom; and the Georgia Partnerships for Excellence in Education in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Trust will host a conference in May to look at ways in which it can benefit education in Victoria. The British Minister for Schools, Estelle Morris, has been invited to attend and she has agreed to be here and bring a delegation of principals with her.

The Minister said that he also envisaged that the Trust would host an annual lecture by a prominent person on education issues to raise the profile of education in the community.

Funds given to the Education Trust Victoria without preference will be used for the general needs of schools and students. Funds can be given for specific purposes or for use at an individual school by donors and will be managed by the Education Trust Victoria.

"Business in particular has a social responsibility to put something back into our society and what better way than through education," Mr Gude said.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Education, February 4, 1999)