DRUG PROGRAM SAVED

Life Education gets funds.

A DRUG education program facing collapse has been saved by a
government about-face on funding.

The State Government has told Life Education Victoria it would provide
$400,OO0 to help fund the program next year.

Education Minister Phil Gude also told LEV state manager Jim Boucher
he expected full recurrent funding to be provided in future budgets.

Mr Boucher said yesterday that parents, teachers and supporters of
Life Education would be delighted to learn of the state government's
commitment.

"It's important to an organisation dependent on volunteers to know
that the government supports it and approves of the program, and that
there's same continuity." he said.

Mr Boucher said the $400,000 grant from the Community Support Fund was
less than 20 percent of LEV's operating costs, but was vital to the
program's survival. Another $1.5 million a year was raised through
fundraising, sponsorships and student fees.

The 25 Life Education mobile classrooms, paid for by local
communities, reach more than 200,000 Victorian primary school students
a year.

A new Life Education program for older students will start in some
metropolitan secondary schools next year.

The withdrawal of state government funding for LEV was revealed in the
Herald Sun on September 17.

Premier Jeff Kennett said then he was prepared to reverse the decision
if he was convinced Life Education provided a worthwhile service to
schools.

Mr Gude told the LEV board this week that the Education Department
would promote the use of Life Education resources to support school
drug education programs.

It would also continue to support the program by providing an
administrative and training facility at Templestowe Valley Primary
School.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady