Building schools for modern learning

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) engaged JLL to provide project management services for 11 schools across Victoria over several years, to accommodate more than 7,000 students as part of their program to deliver 100 new schools by 2026. Three supported inclusion schools were among those to be built. Across the board, the schools incorporated innovation to create inclusive educational environments.

The VSBA is a body set up within Victoria's Department of Education to design, build and modernise the state’s education facilities. It recognises that modern educational infrastructure has to evolve beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to enhance educational outcomes.

While all the schools needed to embrace universal design principles, the three designated supported inclusion schools opening in 2026 – Balambalam Primary, Mindalk Primary and Murrum Primary – incorporated sensory and inclusive design elements to support a wider range of learning needs. Project managers from JLL’s Project and Development Services team co-ordinated with VSBA's design consultants to achieve this with the integration of therapeutic elements.

Six of our project managers coordinated delivery across more than 400,000 square metres of educational infrastructure across the 11 schools. They managed two bundles: five primary schools in north-west Victoria and five primary schools in south-east Victoria, plus one secondary school. Our scope encompassed design coordination, stakeholder management, support for procurement processes and construction administration, through to defects liability management.

The design approach recognised that incorporating natural materials into buildings can have immediate positive psychological effects, helping promote relaxation and reduce stress.

Studies also show that education is effective where students also learn by doing, collaborating and exploring. With this in mind, the schools’ designs embrace flexible learning environments.

Moveable walls and furniture enable rooms to change from traditional direct-instruction settings to collaborative group work areas. Multiple learning zones within each classroom include quiet retreat corners, collaborative spaces and presentation areas that support diverse learning styles and teaching approaches. Indoor-outdoor design provides covered outdoor learning areas that extend teaching opportunities beyond traditional four walls.

All 11 schools have been built with gym spaces, accessible outdoor play areas and wellbeing hubs, providing emotional and physical support to students. The supported inclusion schools also feature strategically placed mobile hoists.

In the supported inclusion schools, the spinning padded pressure poles were strategically positioned in circulation areas for students to use while moving between classes. These poles are known to provide deep pressure input which calms the body’s nervous system.

Balambalam Primary School features centrally located breakout rooms equipped with bubble LED tubes, therapy rocker, beanbags and interactive panels offering visual, auditory, and tactile experiences to assist students to participate and engage in learning.

Small, securable kitchenettes located in learning areas enable food preparation activities and assisted mealtimes without students being separated from their classmates. This approach eliminates the isolation often experienced by students with additional needs, supporting both educational goals and practical care requirements.

The VSBA building program was complex, with initial barriers to accessing some sites. To manage this we enacted resequencing construction methods, identifying priority buildings and focusing our resources on essential learning areas and administration facilities to ensure classes could commence on schedule.

JLL helped deliver 11 schools, creating educational infrastructure with inclusivity in mind. The program's sustainability credentials are equally impressive, with solar panel installations across all schools, supporting Victoria's environmental objectives.

Vegetable gardens were delivered in each school, running tracks at two schools and a STEM building with specialist workshops for Wulerrp Secondary College.

We’re proud to support such critical educational infrastructure.

Full list of schools: Wirrigirri Primary School, Barayip Primary School, Turrun Primary School, Wulerrp Secondary College, Kuyim Primary School, Mirniyan Primary School, Kala Primary School, Wiyal Primary School, Balambalam Primary School*, Mindalk Primary School*, Murrum Primary School*

*Supported inclusion schools