With new dedicated funding to upgrade campuses and buildings across our state, a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will continue its rebuild of Victoria’s TAFE system, making it better than ever before.
Under Labor, the new $220 million Building Better TAFEs Fund will see facilities and campuses rebuilt around Victoria, making sure that every community has a great local TAFE.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney joined Member for Richmond Richard Wynne to announce the Collingwood campus of Melbourne Polytechnic would be revitalised under the Fund.
Melbourne Polytechnic – which offers courses included under the Andrews Labor Government’s free TAFE initiative from allied health to plumbing – will benefit from the $40 million rebuild with new state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to digital media production, IT training, creative arts and foundation studies.
The new space will also be used to deliver programs to meet the needs of local communities, including assistance for those who are struggling to find a job.
Additional projects under the re-elected Labor Government’s Fund will be announced in the coming weeks, with metropolitan, suburban and regional TAFEs all set to benefit.
The news comes as the Labor Government today officially reinstates Trade Papers. Scrapped as part of the previous Liberal Government’s savage cuts to training, Trade Papers formally recognise the skills of Victorians who have completed an apprenticeship, demonstrating to employers and customers their on-the-job experience.
The reintroduction of Trade Papers is the latest investment in the Labor Government’s massive boost to Victoria’s TAFE and training system. Over the last four years, Labor has dedicated billions of dollars to undoing the previous Liberal Government’s damage, including making 30 priority TAFE courses and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses free.
As part of its transformation of our training sector, Labor has cracked down on dodgy providers, as well as creating 30,000 new places, revamping learning materials and upgrading TAFE campuses in Bendigo, Sale and Morwell.
The investment is in stark contrast to the previous Liberal Government, which cut over $1 billion from our TAFEs, closing 22 campuses and facilities across the state, and costing hundreds of dedicated staff their jobs.
Only Labor believes in TAFE – and only Labor will back TAFE students.
As stated by Premier Daniel Andrews
"First, we saved TAFE. Now, we’re making it better than ever, with free courses and revamped campuses."
"Only Labor understands the difference TAFE can make to people’s lives and their chances of getting a good job."
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
"We’re rebuilding what they wrecked. Because Labor will always believe in TAFE, and always back TAFE students."
"With upgraded campuses, we’ll make sure local students can get the skills they need for the jobs they want."
As noted by Member for Richmond Richard Wynne
"The upgrade of this Collingwood TAFE campus will bring state-of-the-art training and job skills right to the heart of our local community."
