The Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (SuniTAFE) will receive $4.4 million to modernise and upgrade learning spaces and facilities at its Mildura campus, as part of a funding package announced by the Victorian Government.
Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney today announced every TAFE in Victoria will share in $55 million to carry out essential upgrades to learning facilities and amenities, as well as to re-fit and modernise existing learning spaces to adapt them to deliver more courses.
The SuniTAFE works include $1.6 million to upgrade the Mildura campus' main entrance into an activation space, featuring student work and training demonstrations, as well as renovating the Skills and Jobs Centre, and the customer service area.
Another $2.8 million will be invested to upgrade the campus' Benetook Avenue carpark, as well as improve stormwater infrastructure. The works include road resurfacing and safety and security enhancements such as lighting.
SuniTAFE has experienced significant recent enrolment growth, with student numbers growing by 39.3 per cent in 2019 alone.
All Victorian TAFEs will share in the funding through the TAFE Asset Maintenance Fund, with projects to be delivered in Geelong, Gippsland, Mildura, Warrnambool, Shepparton, Seymour and metropolitan Melbourne.
This investment is in addition to $48.8 million available for asset maintenance through the Stronger TAFE fund.
The $55 million investment announced today is part of the $1.81 billion announced by the Government for critical education infrastructure projects for schools and early childhood to help drive the state's economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Government is giving Victorians the skills the state needs to respond to the pandemic and prepare for recovery. An extra 18,000 Victorians will be able to train at TAFEs and Learn Locals under a $163 million package of new measures, which includes an expansion of Government's signature Free TAFE program to prepare the state's economic recovery from the Coronavirus crisis.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
"These projects will deliver better facilities for students and staff, and support jobs and local businesses through the pandemic."
"We've rebuilt TAFE and investing to make it even better, because giving Victorians the skills and training they need will be critical to our economic recovery."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp
"This investment will ensure that TAFE students in Mildura continue to receive the very best in training to get them job ready and into paid work."
