By Victoria Stone-Meadows and Bonny Burrows
The proposed Casey Tech School has taken a step forward with Premier Daniel Andrews visiting the site of the new school at Chisholm Institute at Berwick on Wednesday 31 May.
The premier viewed the approved architectural plans for the school as well as met with plumbing and electrical apprentices from the Trade Training Centre.
The premier also surveyed the site of the new $10 million Berwick Health Centre which will feature nurse training and simulation laboratories, learning areas and staff accommodation.
The new Casey Tech School forms part of the State Government’s $128 million tech school initiative that will see the establishment of 10 such schools around the state.
The tech schools – that focus on training and skills sharing between secondary colleges, universities and TAFEs – will allow students to gain valuable knowledge in a particular skill.
During his visit to the Berwick Chisholm campus, Premier Andrews said the new tech school represented a strong investment in the future workforce of Victoria.
“We were elected to put people first, and these investments at Berwick Chisholm do exactly that – giving the next generation the skills they need for the job they want,” he said.
“We’re investing in better TAFE, skills and training in Melbourne’s south east and across Victoria.”
Tech schools used to be popular in Victoria before the Cain Labor Government of the 1980s closed them in favour of establishing more state secondary colleges.
Once established, the Casey Tech School will allow students from 28 secondary schools in the region to gain access to vocational training and further education pathways.
The Casey Tech School plans to focus on biomedical technology, health and medical tech, and high tech manufacturing, production and processing technologies.
A director for the school will be appointed in the coming months with construction of the new building commencing shortly afterwards.
Chisholm Acting CEO Grant Radford said he was proud to have the Casey Tech School opening at their Berwick campus.
“The tech school is a significant project, and we’re partnering with all of the schools in the region,” he said.
“It’s the largest in the state, and obviously will have huge benefits in working with the schools to enhance the programs that are already running in the schools.”
The Casey Tech School is expected to have a capacity of about 200 students, but Chisholm is open to tailoring programs in partnership with local secondary schools.
“Obviously, not every single student is probably going to come through the building,” Mr Radford said.
“However, we’re working on a program that best suit the schools to make sure those students who come through are getting a practical component to their studies.”
The new school is expected to be completed and operational by the middle of 2018.
