Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE) will receive almost $4 million to modernise and upgrade learning spaces and facilities at its Seymour and Shepparton 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.
GOTAFE's Seymour campus will get $1.6 million as part of Stage 2 of the Institute's masterplan. It includes upgrades to the Student Hub and courtyard, roof repairs, access system installation, painting and flooring refurbishments.
GOTAFE Shepparton's café, commercial kitchen and restaurant will be refurbished as part of $2.4 million investment. The project includes upgrades to staff spaces and is designed to reinvigorate the hospitality training space at the Fryers Street campus and provide front and back of house student learning opportunities.
The upgrades kitchen facilities will also create potential training opportunities in commercial cookery and bakery.
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 in addition to $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.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
"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."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"These projects will deliver better facilities for students and staff, and support jobs and local businesses."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp
"This investment will ensure that TAFE students in Seymour and Shepparton continue to receive the very best in training to get them job ready and into paid work."
