Adjournment Question – GOTAFE Shepparton
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My adjournment is for the Minister for Training and Skills and Minister for Higher Education, and the action I seek is that she visit the GOTAFE campus in Shepparton to see the benefits of the investment that the Victorian government has already made but still needs to make. Shepparton GOTAFE is offering the Shepparton community many of the skills needed to fill the vital roles in our district—qualifications in nursing, allied health, cybersecurity, business and IT, sport and recreation, hospitality, baking, hairdressing and beauty. The tertiary education centre is well supported, with 3800 students studying there. The TAFE needs an $86 million renovation to modernise the campus and continue offering students education in a fit-for-purpose building.
The Shepparton region has the most culturally and linguistically diverse community outside of Melbourne. It also has one of Australia’s highest youth unemployment rates. Shepparton alone has 1400 young people who are out of work as a result of having lost jobs during COVID, and 11 per cent of young people are disengaged from work and study. I think we all know that GOTAFE provides a place of entry for so many young people to set themselves on their path to the future.
GOTAFE has completed a master plan for redevelopment which outlines how it will deliver 21st-century learning spaces that attract and inspire regional students. The master plan includes a welcoming front for the whole of the building, other memorable buildings, inspiring public art and innovative research and learning spaces, including spaces to engage with the community. There are well-lit, safe pedestrian links from car parking zones and cycling infrastructure, dynamic and inclusive cultural and social spaces and opportunities for renewable energy improvements to the building in a very significant way.
I think it is fair to say that the TAFE in Shepparton is just such a pivotal part of what I have seen of the Shepparton Education Plan. The state government has invested in the Shepparton Education Plan very significantly, with $140 million for our new early learning centre, attached to Mooroopna Primary School, and the Greater Shepparton Secondary College, which is truly a state-of-the-art, very large secondary college in Shepparton that has brought together the four high schools of our district. It will open in February next year. Everyone is so excited by it. That connection between school and TAFE is very strong in Shepparton. Students share many courses, going backwards and forwards, so the opportunity to now give TAFE that injection of funding it needs is so very important.
Merry Christmas to everyone, including the parliamentary staff and especially our clerks, who do so much for me.
- Answer
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Answered: 4 February 2022
I thank the Member for Shepparton for the question.
The Andrews Labor Government has continued to make significant investments in GOTAFE, allocating $31.4 million across its campuses to enable strong delivery of educational programs. In Shepparton, under the $55 million Asset Maintenance Fund program, the Government has allocated $2.4 million in total for GOTAFEs Fryers Street including the Shepparton Café/Restaurant ($1.4 million) and Commercial Kitchen Upgrade ($1.0 million).
Most recently in 2021-22 State Budget, GOTAFE received $10.671 million for the Goulburn Murray Trades Skills Centre (Archer Street) – Shepparton – Stage Two project to consolidate trade training including plumbing and electrical.
The Andrews Labor Government has also provided a total of $8,249,838 in funding to GOTAFE through the Regional and Specialist Training Fund (RSTF) and the Workforce Training Innovation Fund (WTIF). This included almost one million in RSTF funding to support access by women living in remote locations in the Hume region of north-east Victoria, including Shepparton, to train in the Certificate IV in Agribusiness through a combination of online learning and workshops for small groups of students. AgBiz Assist provided support for students to remain engaged in their training course by operating a mentorship program in partnership with GOTAFE.
I look forward to shortly announcing additional funding that GOTAFE will receive as part of the $12 million TAFE Equipment and Facilities Fund.
The Andrews Government remains committed to ensuring that Greater Shepparton receives the support it needs to improve the educational outcomes, wellbeing, and life opportunities of the community.
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