Tuesday, 27 August 2024

Ministers statements: vocational education and training

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:16): Last week was National Skills Week, where we recognise the importance of vocational education and training in providing genuine opportunities for everyday people to get quality jobs. I had the pleasure of visiting one of our fantastic dual-sector universities, RMIT, to announce an investment of nearly $9 million to boost skills in environmental sustainability and the clean economy. This funding will establish new clean economy skills labs at TAFE Gippsland and Melbourne Polytechnic, which will support training providers and industry to design new skills and qualifications. Skills labs are a practical way that this government is responding to the new and emerging skills needs that our economy faces, including construction and the clean energy transition. In addition, RMIT received funding to co-design these three new skill sets in sustainable building practices. Skill sets include short courses designed to meet urgent workforce demands.

During my visit to RMIT I met students who were already incorporating the new skill sets into their studies – students like Alberto, who is pursuing a sustainable construction skill set alongside his diploma of building and construction to build sustainable housing and contribute to Victoria’s clean economy. I also spoke with one of the course teachers and curriculum designers, who emphasised the importance of sustainable building design in achieving our net zero emissions target. These investments are crucial in enabling world-first qualifications to be developed to put us ahead of the curve. Together we are building the skills of our clean economy workforce. So let us celebrate Victoria’s world-class vocational education system during National Skills Week, every week and every year.