By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council has identified the School Crossing Supervisor crisis as a point of focus ahead of the November State Election.
Yarra Ranges Council’s State Election Advocacy Priorities state that the Victorian Government’s financial support for councils to provide the School Crossing Supervisor service has gradually decreased over time.
Moving the motion for all of the priorities, Councillor Fiona McAllister said advocacy is a really critical part of the work Yarra Ranges Council do.
“It informs the asks that we make on behalf of our community in many forums and none probably less significant than in the build-up to state and federal elections. I think everyone around the table is aware that certainly in the document that’s in front of us, in many cases, the ask is money,” she said.
“We do rely heavily on funding to bring many of our projects and to get our community priorities brought to life by our support from state and federal government. This document outlines key priorities that we are speaking to all candidates about in the lead-up to the state election.”
Yarra Ranges Council believes that the Victorian Government should work with local councils to deliver a more sustainable funding model for the school crossing supervisor service, and to reform the way road safety around schools is managed.
A Government spokesperson said they know how important school crossing supervisors are in keeping our kids safe, which is why they continue to support the program.
“We hope councils will remain a partner to deliver this important community program. When it comes to road safety we all have a role to play, making our long-standing partnership with councils across the state all the more important,” they said.
“Victoria has more than 3,285 supervisors located at primary schools and secondary schools around the state – the most extensive program in the country.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s priority list says that changing demographics are making it increasingly difficult to attract staff, costs to Councils are increasing each year, and growing numbers of crossing sessions are unstaffed each day across Victoria.
They believe the increasing burden on Councils and their local communities is unfair and the failing model is creating inefficiencies, resulting in growing direct and hidden costs to Councils, and funds being diverted away from other community services as a result.
$25.9 million was allocated in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 for the School Crossing Supervisor service, an increase of 20 per cent from previous funding.
70 per cent of school crossings are on local roads and 30 per cent are on arterial roads, with road safety considered joint accountability of state and local government under the Road Management Act 2004.
Under the Road Management Act 2004 and the Transport Integration Act 2010, state and local governments must provide for the safe use of roads including taking reasonable precautions in response to foreseeable road safety risks.
