Thursday 18 October 2018

Students at Federation Training’s Forestec campus will soon have access to even more cutting edge training thanks to a $1.1 million Andrews Labor Government funding boost to the Campus.

Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing announced the funding which will increase the training opportunities within the forestry sector enabling the purchase and upgrade of equipment requirements to meet new and emerging industry standards.

The upgraded equipment will be used by students studying the Certificate III in Harvesting and Haulage where there is an industry-led demand for specific skills in the forestry sector.

The updated training to be offered in this course has been devised in close consultation with industry so students get the skills they need to be job ready the moment they leave Federation Training.

The state-of-the-art equipment includes an Excavator Base and a Tracked Harvester training simulator.

Alongside quality training, these high-quality learning materials will produce world class logging plant operators, log truck drivers, front-end loader operators, bulldozer operators and harvesting technicians.

The Regional Specialist Training Fund, part of the Labor Government’s Skills First initiative, which is ensuring students receive high quality training that delivers the workforce skills employers need.

The Fund is supporting Victorian TAFEs and training providers to work in partnership with industry to develop innovative new training programs, products and projects that harness the very latest technologies and approaches.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 is also investing an additional $644 million to strengthen TAFE, address skills shortages and ensure all Victorians can access the training they need to get a good job.

To make it easier to access training, the Government is investing $172 million to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses that lead to jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers tuition free.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing MP

“The Andrews Labor Government is proud to be investing in these projects which will play a key role in helping Gippsland workers develop the skills they need to secure real jobs and build successful careers.”

“It is another great example of the work we’re doing to develop innovative, cutting-edge training solutions to meet the needs of students and industry as they adapt in a constantly changing economy.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“The previous Liberal Government spent four years cutting TAFE and closing campuses – we’re rebuilding TAFE to make sure Victorians can get the training the need to get a job.”