Friday, 16 June, 20117

Students in Gippsland are another step closer to a brand new Tech School that will give them the skills they need for the jobs of the future.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today turned the first sod on the new Gippsland Tech School at Federation Training’s Morwell Campus.

Becon Constructions will build the Tech School, which will form part of the Latrobe Valley’s $17 million Hi-Tech Precinct, announced by Andrews Labor Government in November 2016
.
The Hi-Tech Precinct will based at the Federation Training site and will bring together the Tech School, Federation University, Federation Training, private tenants, and leading global tech firm Fujitsu as the anchor tenant.

It will mean students won’t have to travel far and wide to get a Tech School education – opening up new opportunities for young people in Gippsland.

The Gippsland Tech School is expected to open in early 2018 and will have an education focus aligned to local industries – including food and fibre, health, new energy and advanced manufacturing.

Students from eight partner government and non-government secondary schools will be able to access the Tech School’s learning programs – which are being designed in collaboration with Fujitsu – free of charge.

The programs will be led by Gippsland Tech School’s interim director Karen Bird and will support student STEM achievement, engagement and decisions about future study.

It is part of the Labor Government’s plan to boost performance in STEM subjects, including a 25 per cent increase in the number of year nine students reaching the highest level of achievement in maths and a 33 per cent increase 15-year-olds reaching the highest levels in science.

Students will learn the skills needed for the 21st century, including vital science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills, and work on real-life problems that need to be solved using the latest technology.

For more information on Tech Schools, visit techschools.education.vic.gov.au. For more information on the Gippsland Tech School, including a list of its partner schools, visit schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino:

“This brand new Tech School will allow students across the Gippsland and Latrobe Valley region to get the skills and experiences they need to thrive in the emerging jobs of the future.”

“We want students in the region to have the best STEM education resources available in their own community.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“Turning the first sod today was another step forward towards opening our brand new Tech School.”

“Local students will soon have a learning centre on their doorstep they can be proud of.”