LABOR would invest at least $30 million for a redevelopment of Geelong’s The Gordon TAFE if it retains power beyond this month as part of a major investment into campuses across Victoria.<\/p>\n
It would also expand a free TAFE program to make selected courses open to all prospective students in a bid to provide more job-ready trainees for critical sectors.<\/p>\n
Daniel Andrews announced this week that his government would invest between $30 million-$36 million towards the Gordon’s disability services hub and a redevelopment of the student hub if it is successful at next week’s state election.<\/p>\n
The Gordon’s student hub is based at its city campus at Gordon Avenue, while its campuses provide support for students with a disability such as academic support workers, links to relevant external agencies and accessibility advice.<\/p>\n
The investment is part of a $170 million commitment to build new or improved TAFE campuses across the state.<\/p>\n
The package includes a $50 million “clean energy fund” that would train apprentices to work for the State Electricity Commission, which Mr Andrews announced earlier in the campaign that Labor would re-introduce if elected.<\/p>\n
“From the Big Build to our transformation of kinder education, there’s huge demand for a highly-skilled workforce \u2013 only Labor is making sure every Victorian can get the skills they need for the job they want.<\/p>\n
“We’re doing what matters for Victorians \u2013 building and upgrading TAFE campuses in every corner of our state, making more courses free and supporting people to upskill or make a mid-career change to a great new job.”<\/p>\n
Labor would also relax entry requirements to a free TAFE program that it first introduced in 2019, which has waived close to $300 million in fees for 120,000 students since starting.<\/p>\n
Students had previously only been allowed to access the scheme once, but the change would allow graduates to re-enrol in a different field for a career change or to upskill.<\/p>\n
The free TAFE initiative covers a range of courses in priority fields such as education, health and construction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LABOR would invest at least $30 million for a redevelopment of Geelong’s The Gordon TAFE if it retains power beyond this month as part of a major investment into campuses across Victoria. It would also expand a free TAFE program to make selected courses open to all prospective students in a bid to provide more […]<\/p>\n