Wednesday, 21 November 2018

More Morwell residents will have access to free TAFE with two early childhood courses to be added to the initiative under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government.

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care would become free under a re-elected Labor Government, helping to support the massive job growth expected as part of Labor’s plan to introduce universal three-year-old kindergarten.

This is a massive reform, and it needs a massive workforce investment to support it. We estimate that the three-year-old kinder reforms will create jobs for 4,900 additional kinder teachers and more than 2,000 additional early childhood educators.

To further support this demand Labor will also provide over 8,000 scholarships for people studying to become kinder teachers at university.

Labor is also upgrading TAFEs across the state including both Morwell and Sale, making sure that Gippsland communities have access to a great local TAFE.

As part of the transformation of Victoria’s training sector, Labor is creating 30,000 new training places, upgrading and rebuilding TAFE campuses – including Federation Training – and making TAFE free for 30 priority TAFE courses and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses.

The investment is in stark contrast to the previous Liberal Government, which cut over $1 billion from our TAFEs, closing 22 campuses and facilities across the state, and sacking 2,400 TAFE teachers and staff.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas

“Introducing universal three-year-old kinder is one of the biggest social reforms in this state’s history. But we know that we need to train people to deliver it.”

“That is why we will make another two early childhood TAFE courses free to ensure we can meet this demand and help passionate people to become highly skilled early educators.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“In the middle of a jobs crisis, the Liberals cut TAFE funding and closed TAFE campuses. This hurt communities in the Valley, so we’ve devoted the last four years to undoing that damage.”

Quotes attributable to Labor Candidate for Morwell Mark Richards

“We know we will need more early childhood workers, with the announcement we will be able to meet the demand that our massive three-year-old kinder reform will create.”