The state government training initiative is designed for people looking to reskill after the pandemic and move into healthcare and other in-demand jobs.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney visited Bendigo Kangan Institute’s new Essendon Health Hub to announce the $61.6 million investment, which will give more Victorians the opportunity to get new skills for a secure job.
“The pandemic made it clearer than ever just how much we need highly skilled people in our health system — whether it’s nursing, allied health or pathology — if you want a job that really matters then now is the time to make a change,” Mr Andrews said.
“There has never been a better time to explore your options at TAFE in Victoria.”
Jobseekers can choose to study any VET course, including from the state government’s signature Free TAFE list. Victorians who already have another qualification — including a degree — can still access these training places at any TAFE across the state if they’re looking to reskill or change careers after the pandemic.
The investment aims to help boost the local pipeline of highly skilled workers for jobs now and into the future, particularly in high-demand industries such as healthcare, hospitality, early childhood education, construction and trades.
Once its refurbishment is completed in June this year, the new Health Hub at Essendon will train about 900 health students each year. New nursing and pathology simulation labs have been built to reflect actual healthcare settings and ensure students are fully prepared when they start work, strengthening Victoria's healthcare workforce.
In 2020, the most popular courses across the TAFE system included mental health, nursing and allied health assistance — as the pandemic highlighted the importance of a strong health and care workforce.
More than 100,000 Victorians have already signed up to the Free TAFE program since it was introduced in 2019.
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