Locals living in South West Victoria will have access to more opportunities to get the skills they need to get a job thanks to $3.5 million for South West TAFE from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney visited the Warrnambool Campus today to announce the funding from the Stronger TAFE Fund, part of Skills First, which will allow TAFEs to focus on what they do best – train students.
The funding will make sure South West TAFE has the resources needed to address industry skill gaps, deliver new innovative training and will help grow enrolments at the institute.
The funding will also support South West TAFE’s other campuses including Hamilton, Portland and Colac.
Through Skills First, the Labor Government is overhauling Victoria’s training and TAFE system, guaranteeing funding to secure the future of TAFE and making sure Victorians have the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Skills First builds on the Government’s investment in TAFE since 2014 – which has included new buildings, reopening closed campuses, rolling out the latest cutting edge equipment and restoring quality to the system.
During her visit, Ms Tierney also met with students from South West TAFE’s Work Ready Training Program.
The program, funded through the Labor Government’s TAFE Back to Work Fund, has helped more than 100 long-term unemployed or unskilled school leavers start an apprenticeship or traineeship, or land a job.
Students can access support services provided by Brophy Youth and Family Services to assist them to remain engaged and complete their studies to get the most out of their lives.
In the last two years, South West TAFE has received $6.9 million from the TAFE Rescue Fund, $1.6 million from the TAFE Back to Work Fund and $1 million for Skills and Jobs Centres from the Labor Government.
South West TAFE's Skills and Jobs Centre has helped more than 600 individuals and 135 employers with training and careers advice, employment services and workshops since opening in April 2016.
Regional TAFEs, like South West, play a vital role in shaping the lives of local kids, helping unemployed people get new skills to find a job and to retrain retrenched workers.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“The Andrews Labor Government will always support TAFE, that’s why we’ve created the Stronger TAFE Fund.”
“Transforming the training and TAFE sector after four years of cuts is no easy feat. That’s why we’re investing record amounts in TAFEs, including South West TAFE, to make sure they’re up to the task.”
“I’m proud to be a part of a government that’s making our TAFEs stronger than ever. Locals from across the Victoria’ south west deserve access to the best training possible and this extra funding will make sure they have that.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020