School education Minister Peter Garrett and Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman today visited Northern Bay College in Corio to see firsthand the local impact and success of the Trade Training Centre.

Northern Bay College is the lead school for the $10.4 million Trade Training Centre, which is used by students from:

• Geelong Grammar School
• Kardinia International College
• Lara Secondary College
• Nelson Park School
• Northern Bay P–12 College Cox Road 8–9 Campus
• North Geelong Secondary College
• Western Heights College.

The centre provides workshops for electrotechnology, construction, automotive and engineering, as well as a commercial kitchen and a hairdressing salon. There are seven storage areas, five theory rooms, an outdoor work area and a café facility.

Students are able to gain qualifications in automotive, construction, engineering, hospitality, electrotechnology and hairdressing.

Mr Garrett said access to qualifications while at school will help industry and the community by addressing identified skills shortages.

“TTCs play an important role in creating a link between schools, students, industry and local business. TTCs give students access to state-of-the-art training facilities and the community has access to skilled future employees," Mr Garrett said.

“These centres mean students can access industry standard facilities and gain skills relevant to the workplace, which will help them on their path to work and further training.

“They are helping increase the number of students achieving Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, and also help meet skill shortages in traditional trades and emerging industries.

“The Gillard Government is committed to building opportunities for students to undertake vocational learning and develop work skills. We’re investing $2.5 billion over 2008–2018 to give every senior high school student in Australia access to a Trade Training Centre.

“But the Victorian Liberal Government has cut funds for the Victorian Certificate Applied Learning (VCAL) course coordinators who support many students enrolled in TTCs with tailored courses and work experience.”

Corangamite MP Darren Cheeseman said that together with the Victorian Liberal Government’s $290 million cuts to TAFE and a reduction in funding rates for approximately 80 per cent of VET courses, it will further weaken vocational education in the state.

“Let’s not forget Joe Hockey confirmed just last month that a Liberal Government will abolish the TTC program completely – leaving thousands of secondary students without access to a trade education while still at school,” he said.

“Trade training in schools and TAFE needs to be supported to give our students the best possible start in their chosen careers.

“The investment of the Gillard Government in the Northern Bay College TTC demonstrates how partnerships with schools and local industry can give our students the best opportunity to develop the skills they need.” 

To date, the Trade Training Centres program has approved $1.2 billion to fund more than 370 projects, benefitting more than 1070 schools around Australia.

For more information visit www.tradetrainingcentres.deewr.gov.au.