The latest NAPLAN test results reveal more than 93 per cent of Australian students are meeting literacy and numeracy standards, but the nation’s best students are performing more poorly than a decade ago.

Indigenous students, those from regional and remote areas, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds also continue to struggle.

Education Minister Peter Garrett said the results were unacceptable, with international comparisons showed Australia’s results were “in decline”.

“In particular, our neighbours in the Asian region have raced ahead of us,” he said.

“Our best performing students are not doing as well as they were 10 years ago, while the gap between the top and bottom students has increased.

“This is not acceptable in a country as wealthy and well-resourced as Australia.”

Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne said despite the billions spent by Labor, the government had failed to make tangible improvements in educational outcomes since testing began in 2008.

“Rather than investing in proven policies that work, such as the former Coalition government’s literacy and numeracy tuition vouchers, the Gillard government last year cut $1 billion from education including in programs designed to engage students in maths and science,” he said.

Mr Garrett said the results would be carefully analysed to improve educational outcomes.

“For Australians to prosper in the coming Asian century, we need to provide the highest quality education to all our children,” he said.

“This includes understanding why our results are not as good as they could be, and what we need to do to change that.”

Mr Garrett said the government had almost doubled education investment over the past four years compared with the previous four.

He said the $2.5 billion Smarter Schools National Partnerships scheme was improving teaching quality with higher teacher salaries, and providing extra support to disadvantaged schools.

Project Name: The Marq

Address: Janefield Drive, Bundoora 3083, Victoria

State: Victoria

Suburb Profile for Bundoora 3083:

Completion Date: May 2013

No. of Units: 39 Terrace, 30 Park Front

Price Range: Please email “enquiry [at] zincip.biz” for more information.

Developer: Goldfields Living

Location Map:

Click here for Location Overview Click here for Street View

Description:

An exciting opportunity this development containing 69 elevated and architecturally designed townhomes is located within an exclusive enclave of the award winning University Hill.

Surrounded by lush parkland, pristine nature reserve, wetlands and plenty of room to roam and explore, The Marq feels like s secluded hideaway, thoughtfully integrated into it’s natural landscape. Townhomes will be luxurious and spacious many with waterfront or parkfront views.

Offering a lifestyle that is picturesque and tranquil, yet close enough to major roads and transport networks such as the Western Ring Road and tram and bus services, The Marq defies it’s location just 18kms from Melbourne’s CBD.

Photos:

The age Amanda Vanstone October 3, 2011 OPINION Schools, research and health will have to wait till we pay off our debt. THE problems facing the world economy are not new. They have just been getting more attention of late. The federal government has known about these problems and the associated risks for as long [...]

Project Name: Riverside GreenSquare

Address: 609 Victoria Street, Abbotsford 3067, Victoria

State: Victoria

Suburb Profile for Abbotsford 3067:

Completion Date: 2014

No. of Apartments: 9-level apartments

Brochure: Click here to Download

Floor Plans: Click here to Download Part 1   Click here to Download Part 2

Price Range: Please email “enquiry [at] zincip.biz” for more information.

Developer: Salta Properties

Location Map:

Click here for Location Overview Click here for Street View

Make yourself a Home @ Riverside Green Square

Description:

Positioned at the heart of it all, you can comfortably experience the benefits of making your own home and city-fringe living at Green Square. Escape to the outdoors on the banks of the
nearby Yarra River or peaceful Studley Park, entertain yourself at countless restaurants, shops, cafes and bars or simply enjoy the convenience of the Victoria Gardens shopping and entertainment precinct just across the road. Only 3.5km away from Melbourne’s CBD, makes the city’s famous laneways, bars, restaurants, sporting arenas and cultural entertainment a short bike ride or tram trip away.

The stylish one and two bedroom apartments, designed by award-winning SJB Interiors, offer practical, unique and creative solutions for apartment living. Influenced by savvy European design, the apartments feature cleverly configured layouts, lighting designs, inventive storage solutions and custom joinery, complimented by contrasting finishes and textures with two
contemporary colour scheme options. Reinforcing the high-end quality of the development, apartments are fitted with Smeg appliances including the oven, cooktop, built-in dishwasher and feature rangehood.

In a time where recreational spaces are often overlooked, Green Square promises to set a new precedent for apartment living. Designed as an outdoor recreational hub, it features semi-secluded and open spaces, catering to the private or the public minded. With a green open space right at your doorstep you have the liberty of basking in the sunshine, relaxing in the shade, enjoying a barbeque with friends and family or taking a dip in the resort-style edge pool.

A unique lifestyle opportunity @ Riverside Green Square awaits you… You could be at the heart of it all.

Photos:

Project Name: Sunday Address: Coventry Street, South Melbourne 3205, Victoria State: Victoria Suburb Profile for South Melbourne 3205: Localities in this postcode South Melbourne State Local government VIC Port Phillip Surrounding locations Albert Park, Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Southbank   Completion Date: TBA No. of Apartments: 14-level apartments Price Range: Please email “enquiry [at] zincip.biz” for [...]

Maurice Dunlevy From:The Australian July 10, 2010 12:00AM MACQUARIE Bank has dismissed analysts’ predictions of a plunge in house prices over the next 12 months but still expects them to soften. According to Macquarie, a combination of rapid population growth, strong labour market conditions and sustainable debt suggests the Australian housing market is built on solid [...]

Channel NewsAsia 23 June 2010 SINGAPORE : Asia-Pacific millionaires are collectively worth more than their European counterparts for the first time, with the rich in China and India leading the way, a study said Wednesday. The report on high-net worth individuals (HNWIs) — defined as anyone with investible assets of at least one million US [...]

Project Name: 33M Address: 33 Mackenzie Street, Melbourne 3000, Victoria State: Victoria Suburb Profile for Melbourne 3000: Localities in this postcode Melbourne State Local government VIC Melbourne Surrounding locations Albert Park, Carlton, Cremorne, Docklands, East Melbourne, North Melbourne, Parkville, Prahran, Richmond, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Southbank, St Kilda, West Melbourne, Windsor Click here for more [...]

Docklands, Melbourne Docklands, Melbourne East Melbourne Melbourne Richmond, Melbourne Port Melbourne Richmond, Melbourne Click here to view the entire Photo Gallery from smh.domain.com.au

Luxurious apartment in Bathurst street, Sydney, priced at $2.9 million Beautiful skyline view from a penthouse apartment in Docklands, Melbourne, at $3 million   3 bedroom apartment in South Yarra, priced at $3.1 million $2.95 million apartment in Perth Click here to view the entire Photo Gallery from theage.com.au