MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:27): This week I announced the Learn Local Awards finalists for 2020, and it was great to make this announcement with the member for Lara, John Eren, at the Rosewall Neighbourhood Centre, which is a finalist in the Volunteer Team Award. Rosewall have been nominated for their English conversation and sewing group. It is a wonderful program where volunteers create a safe, welcoming environment for residents, many from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Rosewall is among so many wonderful providers who are finalists. These include Heyfield Community Resource Centre for their Kick Start Your Career in the Health Industry program. I know that parliamentary secretary Mr Cesar Melhem celebrated with them earlier this week, and I thank him for that. Sandybeach Centre has been nominated for the Pre-accredited Pathway Program Award for their mentoring initiative supporting adults with a disability to find employment. Yet again Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre is a finalist for their partnership with Burke and Beyond, also providing life-changing training for Victorians with a disability. And Zoe Support Australia is nominated for the Volunteer Team Award for their programs that target young, disadvantaged mothers in the Sunraysia community.
In addition to providers, we have some really inspiring finalists for the Ro Allen Award for learner excellence. Colleen Forbes is an Indigenous woman of the Kurnai clan, and she is enrolled in the hospitality and retail course at Community College Gippsland. Her confidence has significantly grown, and she is now working at Woolworths. Colleen is also now working towards her long-term goal of becoming a Koori educator and advocate. Congratulations to all finalists.
