Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (09:46): Last Thursday morning Ms Ermacora, a member for Western Victoria, and I were at the campus of South West TAFE in Warrnambool. We were there to see the beginning of the construction of a new $11 million Building Innovation and Design Centre, and of course there was a ceremonial sod turn. South West TAFE is leading the way in building and construction training across south-western Victoria, where skills are needed and are growing. We need more homes, more apprentices and more workers with renewable energy expertise to build sustainable housing and deliver Victoria’s clean energy projects. That is why this new centre is so important, providing our future tradies with state-of-the-art training facilities and specialist equipment for the industries of tomorrow. We are also relocating automotive training from the Warrnambool CBD campus to Sherwood Park campus, ensuring fit-for-purpose facilities for these critical trades. I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Mark Fidge, the CEO, and his team but also especially all of the trainers and teachers who work so hard in promoting, delivering and supporting vocational training in the south-west so that students can learn in their communities. As Minister for Skills and TAFE I absolutely feel so proud of the efforts that they undertake. They are part of a fantastic team, and Jacqueline, whom I met last Thursday, has been instrumental in encouraging more local women into trades like plumbing, carpentry and construction. Jacqueline is a former South West TAFE carpentry apprentice herself, and is the perfect role model – (Time expired)