Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (12:43): (1561) My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Training and Skills and Minister for Higher Education, the Honourable Gayle Tierney. My question relates to the portfolio responsibilities of training and skills. The pandemic has been an important reminder of how important healthcare workers are for the world. Work is currently underway at Kangan TAFE’s new health hub in Essendon. The new $2 million facility will feature two nursing simulation labs, a pathology simulation lab, a nursing storeroom and other training and staff spaces. Through an agreement between Kangan and the Moonee Valley City Council students at this campus will have more training and placement opportunities. The Andrews Labor government has revitalised TAFE with its free TAFE program, and with this new world-class facility we will be able to address the skills Victoria needs. My question to the minister is: can the minister provide me with an update on how many health students will be able to train at this facility in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region?
Reply:
Gayle Tierney MP, Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education (20 December 2021):
I thank the member for her question and her advocacy for Melbourne’s west.
I had the pleasure of undertaking the sod turn at Bendigo Kangan Institute’s new health training hub at the Essendon campus on 9 November 2021.
The facility is expected to provide training to around 950 students a year.
This investment caters for the growing demand for the Health Workforce in Metropolitan Melbourne and the Northern Corridor. The facility will meet the training demand outlook for occupations that are closely aligned with health workforce needs identified by industry. The health hub project in Essendon is underpinned and supported in collaboration with industry.
Bendigo Kangan Institute consulted with Metro Health Providers in Moonee Ponds, Essendon and the surrounding suburbs on the Essendon Health Hub and Delivery of Health Courses at Essendon. They have developed significant local relationships with the health industry to ensure they can provide the pipeline of skilled workers needed locally.
The local community deserves the chance to get local training for local jobs. That is what BKI’s Essendon campus is delivering – and this investment will make it better than it has ever been.