Premier announces technical school

By Jim Mynard
PREMIER Steve Bracks said last week that a new technical education centre (TEC) would be built on the Chisholm Institute campus at Clyde Road, Berwick.
Mr Bracks said the TEC would be part of the government’s commitment to helping young Victorians develop their work skills.
He said the centre would provide another option for young people in the southeast and help them into a trade course prior to completing year 12 or TAFE equivalent.
No time has been set for building, but a consultation process has been started.
This will involve key education stakeholders, youth, and industry consultation.
Chisholm Institute has engaged former Berwick Secondary College assistant principal and former chairman of the South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN) Terry Trevena to conduct initial consultation with key stakeholders.
This will identify issues to be considered.
Mr Trevena, who is highly respected in his field, will include schools and councils in the region.
Chisholm will hold a stakeholder forum to provide an overview of the issues and progress to date towards the end of August.
Some questions to be explored include ways and ideas in which both organisations can work together with the programs the TEC can offer to add value to stakeholders.
Consultation will involve many companies throughout the municipalities of Cardinia, Casey and Dandenong.
This will include a survey, industry forum and individual meetings.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said trades were a vital part of the economy and that a technical school at Berwick was an initiative needed to fill the gap caused by the shortage of skilled labour.
Ms Lobato said she was thrilled that this educational option would be open to young people in this fastgrowing corridor.
“Families have been asking for an alternative for students who prefer not to pursue academic university studies,” she said.
Mr Bracks said the TEC would have first class facilities, industry standard equipment and high quality industryrelated teaching to provide pathways to better job opportunities.
He said the TEC would benefit industry and would strengthen the Victorian economy by equipping young Victorians with skills they would need in a changing world.
Ms Lobato said meetings with young people as well as teachers at nearby schools including Berwick Secondary College led to the issue of education options.
“I know how successful the alternative ‘Go Girls’ program has been at Berwick Secondary College this year,” she said.
This program comes under the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) which is designed to encourage girls to consider a range of career options.
The program provides alternative options for girls to consider, such as automotive, building and construction, information technology, agriculture and horticulture.
Ms Lobato said the program had provided students with both a reason to continue their education and a sense of purpose.
She said the program convinced her that providing a range of choices was the best way to ensure that all young people received the education they needed to equip them for the workforce.
“This TEC will deliver even more in the area of extending the options available to young people and is just what youth have been asking for,” she said.