GIPPSLAND TO SHARE IN TAFE UPGRADE BLITZ

Monday 14th September 2020

TAFE Gippsland will receive more than $4.3 million to modernise and upgrade learning spaces and facilities at its Warragul and Morwell campuses, as part of a funding package announced by the Victorian Government.

Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney today announced every TAFE in Victoria will share in $55 million to carry out essential upgrades to learning facilities and amenities, as well as to re-fit and modernise existing learning spaces to adapt them to deliver more courses.

A massive 965 square metres of space will be transformed into flexible fit-for-purpose facilities at TAFE Gippsland’s Warragul campus as part of a $2.9 million upgrade. The works will enhance existing learning areas into multi-purpose teaching spaces and improve campus safety.

A further $1.4 million will be invested for building and carpark works at TAFE Gippsland’s Morwell Campus. The works will refurbish classrooms, upgrade carparking and improve staff and student amenity and access to the Koori and Horticulture buildings.

All Victorian TAFEs will share in the funding through the TAFE Asset Maintenance Fund, with projects to be delivered in Geelong, Gippsland, Mildura, Warrnambool, Shepparton, Seymour and metropolitan Melbourne.

This investment is on top of an additional $48.8 million available for asset maintenance through the Stronger TAFE fund.

The $55 million investment announced today is part of the $1.81 billion announced by the Government for critical education infrastructure projects for schools and early childhood to help drive the state’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government is giving Victorians the skills the state needs to respond to the pandemic and prepare for recovery. An extra 18,000 Victorians will be able to train at TAFEs and Learn Locals under a $163 million package of new measures, which includes an expansion of Government’s signature Free TAFE program to prepare the state’s economic recovery from the Coronavirus crisis.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney

“These projects will deliver better facilities for students and staff, and support jobs and local businesses through the pandemic.”

“We’ve rebuilt TAFE and investing to make it even better, because giving Victorians the skills and training they need will be critical to our economic recovery.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“This investment will ensure that TAFE students in Warragul and Morwell continue to receive the very best in training to get them job ready and into paid work.”