Uni expands with government cash

UPGRADES are on the way for Federation TAFE as part of a $2.1 million cash boost from the State Government.

The announcement came last week during a visit to the institution by Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney, who said that a TAFE course is an “equal best first” for securing jobs alongside university.

“Vocational education and training is so important because it provides you with the skills you’ll have for the rest of your life,” she said.

“If you do a trade then you’ve got trade papers. Trade papers are essentially a passport for jobs and a career for the rest of your life, no matter where you are in the world.

“We’ve tried to make sure that almost every part of the offering here with vocational education and training, that they get something in this package that is meaningful.”

The upgrades will include a full refurbishing of Fed TAFE’s Prospects restaurant and kitchen, at a cost of $750,000.

Further additions include updates for tech-operated carpentry equipment, as well as refurbishments at the Mt Helen campus to deliver apprenticeships for wind turbine blade technicians.

Fed University vice-chancellor and president Duncan Bentley said the updates will help to provide further opportunities for graduates within the workforce.

“For us to be able to lead at the cutting edge of the delivery of employment skills for our regions, it’s absolutely essential that we have this investment,” he said.

“It’s why we have such successful students.”

Fed TAFE students and TAFE Awards for Excellence winners Isabella Faull and Stephen Fitzpatrick both studied in the Prospects kitchen, and Mr Fitzpatrick said he’s happy to see the facilities getting an overhaul.

“It’s incredible for the future of the Ballarat students that want to go through here to be able to have those facilities available to them,” he said.

“I hope that one day I’m invited back so I can get a sneak peek of the place, but either way, it’s fantastic to see Fed TAFE getting support for it.”