Tuesday, 21 February 2023

 Michaela SETTLE (Eureka) (13:05): Since 2015 the Labor government has invested to rebuild TAFE, refurbish campuses, launch free TAFE for priority courses and support disadvantaged students into training and jobs. Last year the Minister for Training and Skills in the other place visited Federation TAFE in Ballarat to announce that the Andrews Labor government will refurbish Federation TAFE’s training restaurant and invest in Australia’s first apprenticeship for wind turbine blade technicians under a raft of investments to provide better training options for Ballarat jobseekers.

Last week I attended the 2023 Federation TAFE excellence awards, and it was clear that this investment in TAFE is paying off. It was a star-studded night which saw hundreds of students graduate from a wide range of courses best suited to Ballarat industry. The craftsperson awards were also presented. These awards have been presented in Ballarat since 1956 to recognise people who have successfully completed their apprenticeships.

A big round of applause for the winners of the TAFE 2023 excellence awards: Barbara Muller, Aidan Murphy, Ashlee Colquhoun, Mitch Tierney, Liam Proctor, Alyssa Longridge, Alexander Simmons, Vicki Lloyd, Shane Hartwick, Peter Dawson, Jacob Greenwood, Chantelle Beatty, Joel Lucas, Jason Blue, Niama Jokley, Em Cona, Madison Upton, Lachlan McKenzie, Angus Bigmore, Thomas Creswell, Joe Darbin, India Gaish, Casey Ferguson, Chloe Moorhouse, Matille Disfosa, Sophie Renton, Justin Bisson and especially Jordan Cox. Congratulations to Liam Sloan and his team at Fed Uni.