MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:38): I rise to update the house on the brand-new GOTAFE Wallan campus, which I had the pleasure of opening last week. There was an absolute buzz in these new facilities, as I was joined by my parliamentary colleagues Minister Jac Symes and Danielle Green, the member for Yan Yean, both very strong advocates for TAFE and training in their local communities.
In the lead-up to the establishment of the new campus, GOTAFE consulted with the community and local industry to understand their needs. What they heard was that major jobs growth is expected in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor, where Wallan is situated, over the next 10 years. The establishment of this campus will give students in one of the fastest growing residential areas in the state easy access to quality training and career support services. Students in Wallan will be able to choose from courses in areas such as early childhood education, project management, tourism and several others. GOTAFE has also established a co-location arrangement with La Trobe University at the Wallan campus, offering further study options for students.
Whether it is TAFE courses, university courses or indeed both, the community of Wallan and the surrounding areas now have some seriously good, real local choices. This is particularly important for young people who are finishing school across the road. Local TAFE campuses are crucial links in Victoria’s growing TAFE network, opening new pathways to jobs and changing people’s lives for the better, and this is exactly what this new campus will do for the community of Wallan.
