Two new TAFE Gippsland facilities funded by the Andrews Labor Government have been officially opened.
The Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney visited the TAFE Gippsland Morwell campus to officially open the new Health and Early Childhood Training Centre as part of a $35.5 million redevelopment.
The new centre delivers world-class facilities for students undertaking courses like the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, which were both added to the Victorian Government's landmark Free TAFE course list in 2020 to meet demand from the newly introduced free three-year-old kinder initiative.
The second stage of the redevelopment includes the Morwell Trade Skills Centre which is due for completion in late 2021. It will feature specialist workshop and lab facilities and general-purpose classrooms for courses in electrotechnology, new energy systems, instrumentation and plumbing.
Minister Tierney also visited TAFE Gippsland's Yallourn campus to open the Biomanufacturing Training Centre.
It will be the home to the $3.8 million BioPathways Partnership Project undertaken in conjunction with Opal Australian Paper and Federation University. The refurbished facility will be used to develop courses and research programs in bio-manufacturing including a project that generates energy from waste products.
Current redevelopment works at TAFE Gippsland are being undertaken by Gippsland workers, including Traralgon building company Rebuild. The new facilities will provide more learning opportunities and job pathways for locals, including those who want to change careers.
During her visit, Minister Tierney also met with Free TAFE graduates who are now working in the local community.
More than 1,400 Free TAFE students started at TAFE Gippsland in 2020 - a 37 per cent increase on commencements in 2018. Some of the most popular courses include individual support, nursing, community services and accounting and bookkeeping.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
"We're investing in capital works projects to make sure Victorian students get the education they need to find meaningful and rewarding work - and importantly strengthen the economy as we emerge from the pandemic."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
"These new facilities are such an important achievement for the region - they will provide first-rate training opportunities for Gippslanders, directly linked to growth industries and jobs closer to home."
As stated by TAFE Gippsland CEO Grant Radford
"This exciting project will help us deliver high quality training develop industry-based programs that help displaced skilled workers in the region, promote skills development, and ultimately benefit local industries."
