Victoria’s TAFE sector will get a $50 million boost from the state government aimed at giving unemployed Victorians a better chance to build the necessary skills for the growing industries.
The TAFE Back to Work Fund was announced yesterday by Premier Daniel Andrews at Holmesglen TAFE’s Moorabbin campus.
The Premier was joined by Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert.
“TAFEs mean skills and skills mean jobs. By helping TAFEs get back on their feet, we’re helping our state get back to work. This is about creating new training courses to give unemployed Victorians the skills they need for the jobs they want. Victoria is home to high-growth industries that are crying out for skilled workers,” the Premier said.
“The fund will allow TAFEs to better meet the training needs of businesses that hire unemployed youth, the long-term unemployed and retrenched workers as part of the Back to Work Scheme. Providing extra skills support for the Back to Work Scheme will ensure extra productivity for participating employers,” said Mr Herbert.
According to the Premier’s media release, the one-off $50 million fund – which comes on top of a $320 million TAFE rescue package already pledged by the Labor Government – will save TAFEs that are struggling financially.
The fund will also help institutes build partnerships with companies in the six growth sectors of the economy identified by the Labor Government’s Back to Work Plan to create at least 100,000 jobs.
TAFEs can now apply for one-off grants for new and existing courses that meet the needs of local employers.
