Tuesday, 29 October 2024

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:20): Today I am proud to highlight the achievements of our Learn Local sector. At a recent Learn Local conference and awards event we celebrated the remarkable contributions of individuals and organisations dedicated to adult and community education. More than 30 inspiring finalists gathered at the awards with 300 family members, educators and community leaders to acknowledge how our Learn Locals really are life changing. Congratulations to all the winners for being recognised for their great work – winners like Paw Say Paw, who won the Ro Allen Award for pre-accredited learners. Paw Say Paw came to Australia from a refugee camp in 2022. She quickly learned English and enrolled in a computer course, a sewing class and a micro business course. Thanks to the skills she acquired at the Centre for Participation Learn Local in Horsham she started a sewing business. Now she has a scholarship to study individual support at Federation University.

Learn Locals provide foundational skills, boost confidence and open pathways to further education and employment for people just like Paw Say Paw. To further support this vital work, last week I announced two new funding initiatives to reaffirm our commitment to this sector: the $6.6 million learner and program sustainability grants, which will provide financial support over the next three years, and additionally the $500,000 technology and digital grants, which will address the technical challenges faced by our Learn Locals. These programs are administered by the Adult, Community and Further Education board and will start early next year. Again I would like to congratulate everyone in the Learn Local sector – learners, educators and leaders – and especially congratulate all of those inspirational leaders and winners on the evening of last Friday.