TAFE students in Melbourne’s southeast now have access to a state-of-the-art facility to connect them to the support they need to reach their full potential.
Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas today visited Chisholm Institute’s Berwick campus to officially open its refurbished Student Support Services Hub.
He said students will feel welcomed and included in the new space which will boost the student experience from enrolment through to graduation.
The $700,000 refurbishment features updated and improved spaces for reception, client services, course advisors and student services, waiting areas for students, and upgrades to the auditorium area providing flexible spaces for student events and overflow during peak times.
Students will also be able to connect with information about the Labor Government’s Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative, including the new Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.
Other popular courses on offer under this initiative at Chisholm Institute’s Berwick campus include the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, the Certificate III in Individual Support, and the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.
The Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative began in 2019 and helps reduce the financial barrier for eligible students wanting to train in the courses that directly lead to the jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers.
More than 39,700 students took part in the program in its first year which was 88 per cent higher than the commencements in the same courses at the end of 2018.
There has never been a better time to study with the Labor Government investing an additional $631.4 million to increase access to training and drive economic recovery, including $163 million for a Skills for Economic Recovery package announced in July 2020.
Students can now choose between more than 50 priority courses and pre-apprenticeship courses including the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, and the Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations.
For the full list of Free TAFE courses, visit: www.freetafe.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Member for Narre Warren South Gary Maas
“It’s exciting that local students at Chisholm Institute will have access to a state-of-the-art facility that will connect them with the support they need while studying at TAFE.”
"The Free TAFE scheme gives people access to the training they need to pursue a rewarding career, and with more options available in 2021, there’s never been a better time to study.”
27 January 2021