Premier

Delivering More Skills And Training For Geelong Students

08 October 2018

More Geelong students will be able to get the skills they need to get a good job with the Andrews Labor Government today officially opening the Geelong Tech School and announcing a huge upgrade to the Gordon Culinary School, if re-elected.

Minister for Education James Merlino and Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today opened the state-of-the-art Geelong Tech School, the eighth of 10 to open under the Labor Government’s Tech School initiative.

Located at The Gordon Institute’s Geelong campus, the Tech School will give more than 20,000 students from 23 government, catholic and independent schools across Geelong access to the latest technology and programs.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will continue to invest in the Gordon, announcing $13.5 million from the Building Better TAFEs Fund to upgrade the Gordon Culinary School at the TAFE’s Gordon City Campus – delivering state-of-the-art training facilities for cookery and hospitality students in Geelong.

The funding will mean the Gordon can deliver the Jamie’s Ministry of Food Project as well as establish The Gordon Social Enterprise Café and a new bakery training facility.

Under Labor, the new $220 million Building Better TAFEs Fund will see facilities and campuses rebuilt around Victoria, making sure that every community has a great local TAFE.

This builds on initiatives like the Labor Government’s 10 Tech Schools, which are being established to equip Victorian school students with the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future.

At the new Geelong Tech School, which was designed by Vincent Chrisp architects, there are purpose-built spaces for students to collaborate, practice design thinking and participate in high-level problem solving, as well as design spaces where students get hands-on experience using specialised high-tech STEM equipment.

Geelong Tech School programs will be offered free to local students, and will align with local industries most in need of skilled workers, including healthcare and social assistance, transport, defence and construction technologies and professional, scientific and technical services.

Quote attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“We need students to be ready for the jobs of the future and that’s why we’re investing in Tech Schools - so they can get the hands-on learning with technology they need. The Geelong Tech School will form an important link between our schools, TAFEs, universities and industry.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“People in Geelong deserve access to the best training facilities – we will transform the Gordon Culinary school to give local students the skills they need to get a good job. Whether it’s making TAFE courses free or transforming local campuses, we’re rebuilding TAFE after years of devastating cuts by the previous Liberal Government.”

Quote attributable to Member for Geelong Christine Couzens

“Only Labor will deliver a state-of-the-art culinary school in Geelong to get more local people into jobs and make sure we have great TAFE facilities for the whole community.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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