People in Shepparton will be able to access more TAFE training thanks to a funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today visited GOTAFE’s Shepparton campus to announce almost $7.5 million to deliver 12 new TAFE courses as well as funding to support GOTAFE’s community services.
More than $4 million will be used to fund new courses to address community needs in growth areas such as agriculture industry expansion and innovation, community services, NDIS readiness and more.
A number of new courses will support Indigenous Australians to access apprenticeships, traineeships and training. In one case GOTAFE is partnering with Indigenous National Technology & Telecom Network to provide pathways into telecommunications work.
Indigenous National Technology & Telecom Network expects to create 120 new jobs over the next 12 months with 44 in the Hume region available to well-trained Indigenous Australians.
More than $3 million in TAFE Community Service funding will go to a range of GOTAFE community services including support for Skills and Job Centres in Shepparton, Wangaratta, Benalla and Seymour.
Extra support will also be provided to help boost student’s literacy and numeracy skills as well as creating a supportive TAFE environment for all ability levels and from all backgrounds.
The new courses are being funded through the Regional Specialist Training Fund, which is ensuring students receive high quality training that delivers the workforce skills employers need.
The GOTAFE TAFE Community Service funding boost is part of the Government’s $48.8 million investment across the state to help to give every student the support they need to get the most out of their time at TAFE.
To make it easier to access training, the Government is investing $172 million to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses that lead to jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers tuition free.
The Victorian Budget 2018/19 is investing an additional $644 million to strengthen TAFE, address skills shortages and ensure all Victorians can access the training they need to get a good job.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“GOTAFE is vital to delivering quality training to people in Northern Victoria – that’s why we’re funding 12 new courses and boosting support for students.”
“This funding means that more people will have access training closer to home and get the support they need to finish their course.”
“The previous Liberal Government spent four years cutting TAFE and closing campuses – we’re rebuilding TAFE to make sure Victorians can get the training the need to get a job.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020