Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Ministers statements: TAFE funding

Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education, Minister for Mental Health) (14:15): I rise to update the house about how the Andrews government is training the next generation of nurses and healthcare workers. Healthcare and social assistance is the largest employment sector in Victoria and the fastest growing sector of any industry. That is exactly why the Andrews government has provided $61.6 million for an extra 10 000 places across the TAFE and training system for people looking to re-skill after the pandemic and move into in-demand jobs in health care.

As we are introducing these new places, we are also giving these students the best facilities. The newly refurbished Bendigo Kangan Institute’s Essendon health hub will train approximately 900 health students each year. New nursing and pathology simulation labs have been built to reflect actual healthcare settings and ensure students are fully prepared when they start work. We have also upgraded the health training facilities at GOTAFE Seymour campus, TAFE Gippsland in Morwell and Chisholm TAFE in Berwick. We are building a new Health and Community Centre of Excellence at Kangan TAFE in Broadmeadows, and we have already upgraded the health wards at Frankston Chisholm’s TAFE, including four replica hospital wards.

There are also free TAFE courses in allied health, health services, mental health and nursing. Last year there were over 10 000 enrolments in these free TAFE courses—only possible under the Andrews Labor government because on this side of the house we know the importance of a strong TAFE sector. We have kept our promise to save and to rebuild TAFE after the cuts and closures of those opposite, with a record $1.7 billion investment to ensure Victorians have access to high-quality skills and training for a rewarding career in Victoria’s health system.