The doors have opened at Victoria's new next-generation manufacturing training centre, with the Andrews Labor Government backing more skilled workers for the jobs of the future.
Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney today officially opened the $3.2 million new Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Melbourne Polytechnic's Heidelberg campus.
The new Centre will train Victoria's next generation of engineers to enter the workforce equipped with the skills and knowledge that will keep students at the forefront of the advanced manufacturing market.
The latest industry-grade technology in robotics, 3D printing, and computer design will support a range of industries including biomedical, defence and aerospace and food technologies.
In partnership with Apprenticeships Victoria, the new Centre will promote engineering career opportunities to secondary students and boost hand-on training to entry-level engineers across the state.
The Labor Government invested $1.4 million in the project through Apprenticeships Victoria.
Manufacturing continues to be a driving force of Victoria's economy - employing more than 261, 000 people and contributing almost $31 billion to the state's economy each year. This Centre will help address an industry need for more engineering tradespeople identified in the Victorian Skills Plan.
The Government has delivered nation-leading reforms to fix the broken TAFE and vocational education system left by the former Napthine Liberal Government including offering Free TAFE for more than 70 courses.
Free TAFE has saved students around $340 million in tuition fees since the Labor Government introduced it in 2019 - removing the barriers to training for a great new career for around 137,000 students.
Since 2014, the Government has made a record $3.5 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
"We're making sure Victorians can go to their local TAFE and get a great qualification for our state's most in-demand jobs."
"This centre is just one of the ways we are ensuring that we have the highly skilled, sustainable workforce needed to secure Victoria's future prosperity."
As stated by Member for Ivanhoe Anthony Carbines
"We're investing locally so that every student has the skills and high-quality training they need to power our future."
