Students go tech for industry

By Kelly Yates
THE dream of nailing a career straight out of school is a step closer for technically-minded students with the state’s first Technical Education Centre opening its doors in Berwick.
Berwick TEC, a $10.6 million state-of-the-art facility at Berwick’s Chisholm TAFE, is the first of four new centres funded by the State Government.
The aim of the centre is to meet the education needs of young people aged 16 to 19 years old and train them in areas of industry skills shortages.
Students at the Kangan Drive centre will undertake a broad range of courses, including the VCAL, VET qualifications, pre-apprenticeships and other industry-specific vocational learning courses that lead to either employment or further study.
All of the TEC programs will integrate literacy and numeracy as well as industry skills.
Chisholm Institute’s CEO and director Virginia Simmons said a distinctive education precinct was emerging in Berwick with the TEC, Chisholm Institute, Monash University and the new Nossal High School located on both sides of Clyde Road.
She said the Berwick TEC’s setting took into account the developmental needs of students in transition from adolescence to adulthood.
“Given the age of the students, a significant focus is placed on the challenges associated with the transition from relative dependence to independence,” Ms Simmons said.
Skills and Workforce Participation minister Jacinta Allan joined Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley last Thursday for the official opening and a tour of the interactive learning facilities and specialist skills training areas.
Ms Allan said that as many as 300 young people at a time would receive the high-est standard of skills train-ing and unprecedented access to Chisholm TAFE’s industry links.
“They will be empowered, employable and on a clear path to a solid career when they leave the college,” Ms Allan said.