PRESS RELEASE: No commitment to increased support for regional music education from Liberal / National coalition

Education Minister Rob Stokes’ Office has conveyed to the President of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums, Anita Bellman, that the NSW Liberal/National Government will make no commitment to enhanced funding, for the 17 Regional Music Conservatoriums across NSW, this election campaign. 

“Our numerous requests dating back to October 2018 to meet directly with Minister Stokes to discuss our submission for increased funding for Regional Conservatoriums were denied. Disappointingly, Minister Stokes is the only Minister for Education who has refused to meet with Regional Conservatoriums”.

“I received a call from the Minister’s office explaining that, despite all the hard work we had done in cooperation with the Department and Minister’s office, the Berejiklian-lead Coalition will not be making an announcement on Conservatorium funding”, Ms Bellman said. 

“Instead I was informed that consideration of enhanced funding would be left to the 2019/2020 budget process, if they win the election.  Alarmingly, this can only mean that the NSW Liberal/National Party has not seriously considered increasing support for Regional Conservatoriums.” 

“It is not our role to play partisan politics and we have no desire to do so, but are grateful we have already been given a commitment of $40 million in additional funding, for core and infrastructure needs, from the NSW Labor Party.” 

Regional Conservatoriums are music education hubs, teaching tens of thousands of students in primary schools, high schools and at Conservatoriums across the state, working in close partnership with schools to supply specialist music teaching that would otherwise be unavailable in regional communities.

“Regional Conservatoriums have been working tirelessly for more than 40 years to provide equitable access to quality music education across regional NSW that was previously only available in metropolitan areas.”

“We provide first class music teaching that results in students achieving amazing results.  We give them skills and confidence to go on and succeed through all their social and educational pursuits. The benefits to our communities are immeasurable”, Ms Bellman said. 

“It is currently time for Regional Conservatoriums to submit triennial funding requests to the government and we had a modest proposal submitted to the Minister for consideration, that he has rejected to even consider unless the Coalition wins government. We now have no idea of what our next 3 years of funding could look like.”

“Our network values our relationships with governments of all types and never enters the political field but it is disappointing, to say the least, that there is no announcement on music education in our state, forthcoming from the Liberal/National parties”, Ms Bellman said.

The Association hopes to continue the dialogue with the NSW Liberal / National Party to work towards a better outcome for the future of Regional Conservatoriums.

Media Contact: Anita Bellman, President, Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums
Phone: 0410 047 066
Email: [email protected]