Warragul students will soon move into new state-of-the-art facilities at TAFE Gippsland, funded by the Andrews Labor Government.

The Queen Street redevelopment is part of $6.25 million in upgrades across the Warragul and Morwell campuses to cater for a growing number of TAFE students and features a new campus entrance, multipurpose teaching spaces, specialist training spaces and refurbished staff accommodation.

The project will enhance TAFE Gippsland’s training delivery and improve the skills and job pathways offered to locals in the Warragul and Drouin regions.

It will also support significant student growth at TAFE Gippsland, which recorded nearly 2000 Free TAFE enrolments at the end of June, a 17 per cent increase on last year. Among the most popular courses offered by TAFE Gippsland is Early Childhood Education and Care, with commencements almost tripling since Free TAFE began in 2019.

Works are being undertaken by Becon Constructions, which employs 18 locals, and are set to be completed in December.

The Labor Government has invested $4.3 million towards the TAFE Gippsland campus upgrades as part of the $55 million TAFE Asset Maintenance Fund. It includes $1.4 million to undertake building and car park works at the Morwell campus.

Since 2015, the Labor Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 includes a $383.8 million investment in the TAFE sector to ensure more Victorians get the training they need for in-demand jobs.

Quote attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney:

“We want every Victorian to have access to the best training in world-class facilities to ensure they are job-ready – which is why we’re making a record investment in TAFE and training in Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing:

“It’s great to see the redevelopment of TAFE Gippsland in West Gippsland is another step closer – not only is it creating jobs during construction, but the finished facility will help pave the way for local students to get good local jobs.”