The Andrews Labor Government is giving more Gippsland jobseekers access to world-class trades training with the opening of a new multimillion dollar Morwell Trade Skills Centre at TAFE Gippsland.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today officially opened the Morwell Trade Skills Centre (MTSC) as part of a $35.5 million campus redevelopment, helping secure a local pipeline of skilled workers now and into the future.

The MTSC is a major milestone in the Labor Government’s rejuvenation of TAFE Gippsland, after the former Liberal National Government slashed $1 billion from the TAFE system, impacting local education and careers options.

The MTSC features specialist workshop and skills bays, plumbing and electrical lab facilities and general-purpose classrooms – with final installations of hot water systems and more undertaken by students as part of their studies.

It will cater for 50 per cent more students in plumbing, electrical, electrotechnology, instrumentation and control, animal care and horticulture. TAFE Gippsland has already experienced an enrolment increase of more than 28 per cent on 2021 for students looking to study at the MTSC.

Stage one of the Morwell Campus Redevelopment Project, the Health and Early Childhood Training Centre, opened last year, meeting industry demand as the Labor Government’s nation-leading funded three-year-old kinder initiative rolls out.

The project’s construction created 507 jobs, including 20 apprentices, trainees and cadets – including past and present TAFE Gippsland students.

The Labor Government invested $35.5 million towards the Morwell Campus Redevelopment Project in the Victorian Budget 2018/19, along with record capital investments in Warragul and Sale. The Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education since 2014.

Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“It’s only a Labor Government that will deliver the investments a strong TAFE system needs – and that means giving Victorians more training options and access to world-class facilities like the new Morwell Trade Skills Centre.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“There’s already been an increase in students signing-up for apprenticeships at the new Morwell Trade Skills Centre – which will give locals the best skills and job opportunities in Gippsland and right across Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“These world-class facilities are a key part of our long-term transition and development to give more Gippslanders the benefit of record funding in TAFE, training, and pathways to the jobs they want, closer to home.”

Quote attributable to TAFE Gippsland Chief Executive Officer Grant Radford

“The Morwell Trades Skills Centre will provide a high-quality vocational trade training experience and these first-class training facilities are suited to the needs of our local trade industry disciplines.”