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Victorian Finance Minister Enver Erdogan, centre, with Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and Bass Labor candidate Chris Buckingham.
By Catherine Watson
The Labor Party has committed to establishing a TAFE Gippsland campus in Wonthaggi if it is re-elected.
The new campus would be co-located with the Bass Coast Secondary College campus in McKenzie Street and scheduled for completion in 2029.
The $5 million commitment was announced on Thursday by Envers Erdogan, the Victorian Finance Minister and lead candidate for Labor in the Upper House seat of Eastern Victoria.
It is part of a $70 million commitment to build or extend three campuses across the state, with the balance earmarked for extensions at Chisholm and Bendigo TAFE colleges.
Labor’s candidate for Bass, Chris Buckingham, said Wonthaggi was growing rapidly and need a TAFE that could meet the demand for vocational training. “This is a win for employers and students.”
Last month Liberal Leader Jess Wilson and the Liberal candidate for Bass, Rochelle Halstead, announced the Liberal Party will build a new technical college in Wonthaggi if it is elected.
The Liberal commitment is worth $222 million for 10 colleges over eight years, with half to be built in the first term of government.
No date or allocation has been announced for the Wonthaggi college, which would also be co-located with the secondary college.
Liberal candidate for Bass
Rochelle Halstead
It would give secondary students vocational education and training in trades critical to building new homes and infrastructure such as plumbing, electrical and carpentry, as well as healthcare and hospitality.
While the dual commitments augur well for the future, they won’t fill the current gap in local vocational training any time soon.
There's no shortage of jobs in health care, construction, community services and renewable energy, but there are limited opportunities for Bass Coast students to study locally.
Bass Coast Adult Learning, which offered vocational courses in horticulture and hairdressing, closed abruptly in June after operating for more than 30 years.
Chisholm Institute offers five courses in early childhood education, accounting and bookkeeping, education support, and individual support for ageing and disability.
This year it had about 50 students doing courses with a mix of face to face and online learning. It also offers a short course in pathology collection.
It’s a far cry from their pre-Covid days when they also offered courses in carpentry, community services, allied health and IT.
Last year, Chisholm stated that it was “partnering with the Victorian Government and TAFE Gippsland to explore solutions for education and training opportunities in the local community”. However, no short-term solutions have emerged.
In more encouraging news on the tertiary education front, Monash University announced last month that it would offer an allied health degree in Wonthaggi next year, with students able to specialise in occupational therapy, physiotherapy or podiatry.
A campus is yet to be confirmed but students will undertake placements at Wonthaggi Hospital.