Thursday, 19 March 2026

 Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Women) (09:53): The Gisborne Secondary College trades hub is complete. Last Thursday I had a sneak peek at this fantastic $5.8 million new facility delivered by the Allan Labor government. It was fabulous to see kids hard at work in the hub, discovering the rewards of working with timber and some of the skills that are required to master carpentry. This modern, hands-on learning environment is ensuring young people can develop practical skills that will set them up for future careers in trades and technical industries.

On Friday I dropped in at Kyneton High once again to check out the trades hub which was delivered by our government in 2019. This hub provides specialist learning areas for trades such as engineering, construction and automotive. Hot off the grand prix, I met with some aspiring motor mechanics keen to get to work on their automotive skills. At Daylesford College our government has delivered a $10 million upgrade that delivers new food tech, textiles and technology spaces.

These investments, along with the Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships program and the vocational major, are about ensuring every young person has an opportunity to shine in our government school system while building the skills and capabilities that our economy needs. Our government will always back our tradies of the future, ensuring they have opportunities at schools and TAFE.

I would also like to give a shout-out to and congratulate Daylesford College student Matthew Hunt, who was awarded the prestigious Hansen Scholarship to Melbourne University for his outstanding academic achievements.