The Crisafulli Government is investing in the future of Cairns schools, with significant funding for new facilities that will create modern, fit-for-purpose learning environments for local students.
As part of a $104 million statewide program delivering new classrooms, learning spaces and specialist facilities, two Cairns schools are set to benefit from major projects:
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Cairns State Special School will receive a $15 million investment to build a new classroom block with eight classrooms, an outdoor learning space, and improved accessibility for staff and students.
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Whitfield State School will see the delivery of a $13 million Performing Arts Centre, giving students access to performance-grade facilities while also benefiting the broader community’s creative arts and sporting groups.
These investments will be delivered by 2027 and are part of the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to ensuring every Queensland student has access to the facilities they need to succeed.
For Cairns State Special School, the new facilities will help meet the needs of a growing enrolment and support students with tailored, individualised programs.
Principal Alicia Smith said the upgrades would make a meaningful difference:
“The most exciting part is being able to provide the specialised facilities that support students’ education and health needs. As our enrolment numbers are growing, we need the new facilities to accommodate growth.”
At Whitfield State School, where more than 450 students participate in creative arts each day, the Performing Arts Centre will be a long-awaited home for the school’s thriving arts culture.
Principal Matt Thompson said the new facility would be transformative:
“This is a game changer for our school. Our parents strongly supported a new facility dedicated exclusively to performing arts and our successful programs. This will provide an outstanding home for our performing arts where we can extend the talents of our students and welcome their families and the wider community to witness their success.”
With 15 new schools being delivered under the $21.9 billion Education Budget, including six new special schools, the Crisafulli Government is ensuring every community has access to modern, high-quality facilities.
For Cairns, the combined $28 million investment into Cairns State Special School and Whitfield State School is about giving students the tools and spaces they need to achieve their best, while strengthening the role of schools as hubs for families and the wider community.
After 10 months of action, the future for Cairns schools looks brighter than ever.
