Construction on Victoria’s newest TAFE campus is well underway, with doors at TAFE Gippsland’s Port of Sale campus expected to open to students next year, funded by the Victorian Government.
The $25 million facility at Punt Lane and York Street was designed by GHD Woodhead Architecture and is being built by McCorkell Constructions with support from 28 local contractors.
The new campus will feature purpose-built facilities for courses including health and social services, early childhood, carpentry, engineering and automotive and trade – meeting local industry demand and creating a pipeline of skilled workers.
The new campus will accommodate new and existing students from the current Fulham campus, offering world-class training for local students under one roof.
TAFE Gippsland has a strong track record of helping jobseekers get the skills they need for a rewarding career, with more than 81 per cent of students in 2021 successfully gaining employment after graduation.
Free TAFE delivery will be enhanced at the Port of Sale campus, giving students access to low-cost training and building on the existing $7.3 million in fee savings. Courses will include the popular Early Childhood and Care course, which experienced an increase in enrolments of 360 per cent at TAFE Gippsland in the first two years of Free TAFE.
The initiative has also helped boost access to training for Victorians of diverse backgrounds and identities, with the highest increases at TAFE Gippsland among Indigenous and CALD students, women and people with disability.
Since 2014, the Victorian Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“It’s great to see how the new Port of Sale TAFE campus is progressing – I’m looking forward to seeing its doors open to students, staff and the community next year.”
“This type of world-class facility is just one part of our skills and training agenda – we’re making a record investment across the sector to ensure Victorians have the best possible opportunities.”
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Jane Garrett
“The new Port of Sale TAFE campus will be a game-changer for local jobseekers but also Gippsland businesses and industry – it will ensure a highly skilled pipeline of workers that will contribute to our community.”
As stated by TAFE Gippsland Chief Executive Officer Grant Radford
“The Port of Sale campus will deliver a quality vocational training experience and it will be focused on skills training to a range of local industry disciplines.”
