Training centre close for The Gordon

CARPENTRY and plumbing students will be the next beneficiaries of large-scale upgrades to Geelong’s The Gordon TAFE.

The state government has invested $2 million to build new plumbing and carpentry workshops at the East Geelong campus.

Construction is underway and due to finish this month for 21 plumbing skills bays, an outdoor sandpit to replicate plumbing tasks and brand-new carpentry classrooms.

The new facilities would accommodate 50 per cent more students in the popular courses, which had 1480 enrolments this year.

Learner chippies and plumbers will have more facetime with supervisors following the upgrades and use of industry-standard equipment.

The new training centre would also expand The Gordon’s school-based training programs to improve pathways to local apprenticeships.

“With the introduction of a new training package, the expansion of our trade training facilities is timely and further allows for our practical spaces to be designed to deliver more efficient training programs for our apprentices,” The Gordon’s design and construction centre boss Wayne Ketchen said.

State MPs said the improvementS were designed to provide greater training opportunities and career pathways for Geelong students.

“We want to make sure our future workforce gets the skills they need in the very best environment, which is why we’re continuing to invest in great projects like The Gordon’s new plumbing and carpentry training facility,” Western Victoria MP and Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney said.

“Trades are already among the most popular courses at The Gordon and this new facility will accommodate even more students, helping meet industry demand in Geelong and across Victoria,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.