Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Kangan Institute, Broadmeadows

Kathleen MATTHEWS-WARD (Broadmeadows) (19:07): (534) My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Skills and TAFE, and the action I seek is for her to join me in a visit to the Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows to see the incredible progress on our $60 million Health and Community Centre of Excellence, currently under construction. Ahead of time and on budget, I love seeing the cranes in the air and the progress on this landmark building week after week. I was at the wonderful Kangan Institute for the Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board meeting just last Wednesday, and this week the windows are being added.

All day today in this house we have heard about the importance of the workforce for the rollout of our nation-leading and life-changing free kinder and Labor’s record investment in early education and care. This centre will be critical in skilling up locals to take on these very rewarding jobs. We already know that we are going to need more health, allied aged care and disability workers now and into the future, and with free kinder more locals will have the option to enter training and join these rewarding and in-demand careers. This huge investment will deliver state-of-the-art laboratories and high-quality flexible learning spaces. It is the pride and joy of Broadmeadows. I thank all members of the revitalisation board, including Sally, Gina, Don, Sheena, Naim, Joseph, Jeroam, Gregory and Robert for their advocacy on this project.

It is also great to see plans shaping up for the new tech school in Broadmeadows, also to be delivered by Kangan Institute, another local election commitment being delivered by a Labor government that values skills, training and education and wants to ensure our people have the skills we need for the jobs of the future.