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YOU can’t miss the Chisholm Institute campus on a prominent intersection as you drive into Wonthaggi. But despite the attractive campus and the impressive advertising hoardings, the institute doesn’t offer a single in-person course.
Long-time secondary and tertiary trainer Malcolm Beasley says the lack of hands-on vocational training in Bass Coast is short-changing local students and forcing them to leave home for training.
Long-time secondary and tertiary trainer Malcolm Beasley says the lack of hands-on vocational training in Bass Coast is short-changing local students and forcing them to leave home for training.
“The need for physical courses at the Wonthaggi campus is crucial for supporting our local economy and providing residents with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.
“I am so concerned about the future of my grandchildren who live in Wonthaggi. What options, besides moving out of the area, do they have for vocational training in a physical environment? What will happen to us when all the young people leave?”
He says the lack of local training opportunities limits the ability of residents to upskill and pursue vocational education without the need to travel considerable distances, which is often impractical and costly.
The disparity in access to training resources is stark when comparing Bass Coast to similar shires such as Colac Otway, Mount Alexander and South Gippsland.
“I am so concerned about the future of my grandchildren who live in Wonthaggi. What options, besides moving out of the area, do they have for vocational training in a physical environment? What will happen to us when all the young people leave?”
He says the lack of local training opportunities limits the ability of residents to upskill and pursue vocational education without the need to travel considerable distances, which is often impractical and costly.
The disparity in access to training resources is stark when comparing Bass Coast to similar shires such as Colac Otway, Mount Alexander and South Gippsland.
“Bass Coast College is the largest college in Gippsland and significantly bigger than comparative schools yet there is no training centre to cater for transition to work, VET in Schools nor post-secondary pathways for these students.
“This disparity is unacceptable and significantly hinders the ability of local residents to access essential training and educational resources without the need to travel long distances, which is often impractical and costly.”
Mr Beasley has written an open letter to the Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, asking him to intervene to ensure vocational training is available in Bass Coast Shire.
He is also seeking support from the Bass Coast community. You can sign the Change.org petition for a Bass Coast TAFE college.
“This disparity is unacceptable and significantly hinders the ability of local residents to access essential training and educational resources without the need to travel long distances, which is often impractical and costly.”
Mr Beasley has written an open letter to the Federal Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, asking him to intervene to ensure vocational training is available in Bass Coast Shire.
He is also seeking support from the Bass Coast community. You can sign the Change.org petition for a Bass Coast TAFE college.
Malcolm Beasley ran the Impact Creativity Centre in Wonthaggi from 2000-2011 delivering training in digital media and information technology to 16 secondary colleges at VCE level as well as Advanced Diploma students. He has delivered VET in VCE training to Year 11 and 12 VCE and VM students at Bass Coast College (formerly Wonthaggi Secondary College) since 2012.
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Not having physical courses available means that students either have to leave home to study, which is expensive, or study online, which is also expensive. But money is not the only problem. Being part of a vibrant student community is extremely important for anyone who is studying. This became blatantly obvious when lockdowns during COVID restrictions, meant all students needed to study online. And having teachers available, at hand, to help and explain work, ideas, concepts, and clear up concerns, is so important for student wellbeing. Yes, it can be done on zoom and similar platforms, but that is not the same as a physical presence.
And it is not only school leavers who are affected. Many mature age prospective students may decide not to study if online is their only choice. Going back to study after a break is difficult for anyone. For some older students, the internet itself, presents problems. And some students have English as a second, third, fourth, fifth ..language. Studying in English is difficult enough in any circumstance, but having to do so online makes it nigh impossible.
A key local issue is and has been the difficulty in filling vocational training classes - even when they have been offered. The value of further education and training needs to be recognised and promoted across the community. As Malcolm points out: young and old alike need to be responsive and nimble in order to survive and thrive in a 'rapidly evolving' job market. It's hard to know if it's the chicken or the egg that's the problem...
Please understand I am not in any way downplaying the excellent work the Adult Ed centres and indeed the University Centres do for those who are engaged.
My real issue is the shocking waste of resources and lack of planning that has completely eroded our Vocational Options in Bass Coast. This is a federal issue as well as a state and a local issue. It seems it has just been put in a too hard basket and we all suffer.
Where do disengaged young people go? Where can the unemployed, who want to upskill, go and who need the capacity building that in-person training gives.
Where do those planning on career changes go to sample other skill sets?
Where do employers go to build capacity among their workforce?
Where do partnerships develop in building community and economic capacity?
I could go on and on.
TAFEs offer so much more when properly funded and supported.
If you build a vibrant training environment and then encourage participants in this "Free" Tafe space then classes will fill.
I have direct experience with this in running my own RTO for a decade in Wonthaggi.
TAFE and Vocational training is a right not a luxury and Bass Coast Shire suffers from the lack of options as a consequence.
Please sign and share the petition and contact your local member Jordan Crugnale:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bef4d1ccdadfd090fdcccbd9d0dfd2dbfecedfccd2d7dfd3dbd0ca90c8d7dd90d9d1c890dfcb">[email protected]</a>
and Federal Member Russell Broadbent's officer <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a012b38262f2f640e38232f39392f240a2b3a22642d253c642b3f">[email protected]</a>
Hi,
Our Bass Coast campus open as a study space and potentially enabling remote classes to be streamed into the campus. There are no courses listed under Bass Coast at the moment and the campus is used more as a study space for students doing online courses.
Kind Regards,
Brenda Singh
Contact Centre Officer
Student Enquiry and Enrolment Services
121 Stud Road, Dandenong VIC 3175
T 1300 244 746