Thursday, 3 May 2018

Morwell and Sale will be home to two of Victoria’s leading TAFE facilities thanks to a budget funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 is delivering for Sale, with $25 million to build a new Federation Training TAFE campus at Port of Sale to expand and improve access to training opportunities in the area.

This funding has been secured by the Labor Government through the sale of Federation Training’s Chadstone Campus, which will be retained within the TAFE network to ensure vocational education and training will continue to grow in the area.

The Budget will also invest $35.5 million to transform Federation Training’s Morwell Campus, giving Morwell the facilities it needs to provide young Victorians with the skills they need to get a job with a new Future Skills Training Centre and Technical Training Centre of Excellence.

Following the recent opening of Morwell’s new Tech School, this investment cements Morwell as an education and training hub for Gippsland.

The Labor Government is delivering the biggest change to TAFE and skills training in Victoria’s history and this funding supports Gippsland to build the facilities it needs to reap the benefits.

We know that the cost of training can act as a barrier to getting the right skills so this Budget breaks down that barrier. It invests $172 million to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses in these growth industries free.

To make sure every Victorian who wants a job can get this free, quality training, the Budget also includes $303.8 million to create more than 30,000 new training places.

Our record investment in major road and rail projects, new schools and hospitals, support for Victorians living with a disability and historic action to curb family violence has created massive demand for skilled workers in these industries.

We’re making sure people in Gippsland can get the training they need to be first in line for those jobs.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney:

“This funding is a direct result of consultation with the community on the future direction of TAFE in Gippsland – we have listened and delivered, with funding for two transformative projects which will boost training.”

“This Budget reduces the barriers to TAFE and training in Victoria with free priority courses and more subsidised places – we want Gippsland to have the best facilities so the community can take full advantage.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“I know how much this will mean to the people of Gippsland and I’m so pleased to have been able to work with the local communities in Morwell and Sale to make their vision for Federation Training a reality.”

“The previous Liberal Government slashed TAFE funding and destroyed skills training in Victoria – we’re fixing their mess so Victorians can get the skills they need for a good job and a better life.”