DECEMBER 7, 2016 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
A new vision for students Free eye tests will be offered at seven primary schools across Wyndham, thanks to a new state government initiative. The Glasses for Kids program aims to test the eyes of 30,000 pupils from prep to year three at 250 Victorian schools. Free glasses will be provided to those youngsters found to need them. Glasses for Kids, a partnership between the state government and Melbourne University, will use supervised final year optometry students to vision test about two-thirds of students. Studies have shown that children with undiagnosed vision problems often find it hard to concentrate at school, leading to poor results and disruptive behaviour – yet many struggling families avoid eye tests because of their cost. Education minister James Merlino said initial trials showed how essential this program would be to young learners. “The results from the trial were astounding,” Mr Merlino said. “At one school we tested 330 kids, and 125 of them needed glasses … teachers reported an immediate improvement in behaviour and academic performance.” Iramoo, Manorvale, Mossfiel, The Grange, Warringa Park, Westgrove and Wyndham Park primary schools will take part in the initiative. Ewen McRae
Tristan loves what he sees with his glasses on. (Damjan Janevski)
New cop shop, more police By Adem Saban Werribee police station will be rebuilt as part of a $2 billion state government package to help police resources keep up with population growth. The four-year plan will also include the recruitment of more than 2250 new police officers statewide. Police Minister Lisa Neville announced the investment at a press conference in Melbourne on Sunday morning. She said there had been “incredible pressure” on police in growth corridors and many communities were left fearful and concerned. “We have seen a crime rise and seen a need
to deliver more [police resources],” Ms Neville said. “This is about starting the process of turning that around and supporting growing communities in Victoria.” Police Association figures reveal that Wyndham now has 45 police for every 100,000 residents, compared with a state average of 102 officers for every 100,000 residents. The association has said the region will need another 159 officers in the next five years to reach and maintain the current Victorian ratio. Earlier this year, Ms Neville guaranteed that growth areas such as Wyndham would see additional police on the beat by as early as February next year. On Sunday, she said a new allocation model
had been finalised and would provide a clear understanding of where frontline police were needed. The model would also help forecast future needs. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said police resources in western outer growth corridors, such as Wyndham, had been “well and truly stretched”, and he believed the new model would help combat that. Police Association secretary Ron Iddles noted: “Today is a historic event. Never in the history of Victoria Police have we seen such an injection.” Mr Iddles said the boost in police investment was the result of Victoria Police, the state government, and the Police Association
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working together for a safer community. News of the upgrade was welcomed by the three state MPs representing Wyndham. Werribee MP Tim Pallas said: “I care about the safety of my community. We have to turn the recent crime trends around. That’s why these additional frontline police, and a replacement police station for Wyndham, are so important.” Tarneit MP Telmo Languiller, who received a petition from concerned residents at Spring Street earlier this year, said the government had listened to those concerns while ensuring police had the resources to do their job. Altona MP Jill Hennessy said it was “great news for local police in Wyndham”.
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