My constituency question is for the Minister for Skills and TAFE in the other place. Minister, how will the national skills agreement between the Albanese federal government and the Allan Victorian government benefit the Holmesglen TAFE Glen Waverley campus in my electorate? Only a couple of weeks ago the Allan and Albanese Labor governments signed a $3.15 billion landmark national agreement to strengthen our TAFE and training sector. Victoria has led the nation when it comes to TAFE reform. After first being elected at the end of 2014 we reopened TAFEs that had been previously closed by the Liberal government.
Furthermore, we have introduced and extended free TAFE for many Victorians. More than 80 free courses are available to study, all of which are priority courses so Victorians can get the skills they need for our most in-demand jobs. Our TAFE reforms are helping Victorians get their first qualifications, gain skills that Victoria needs and achieve career changes. I look forward to seeing how the five-year national skills agreement, which will come into effect from January next year, will further strengthen our TAFE sector, including our Holmesglen TAFE campus in Glen Waverley.
Minister’s Response:
I thank the Member for Glen Waverley for their question regarding how the National Skills Agreement will benefit the Holmesglen TAFE Glen Waverley campus.
I was incredibly proud to sign the National Skills agreement (NSA) with my fellow Skills Ministers, following its endorsement by the Prime Minister and Premiers at National Cabinet on 16 October 2023.
I was also pleased to hear about the Commonwealth’s additional $41 million investment in TAFE Centres of Excellence, announced with the release of the Employment White Paper in September.
The Australian Government’s investment of $3.152 billion in the National Skills Agreement, demonstrates their commitment to the Victorian TAFE network. This 5-year Agreement continues to build on strengthening the TAFE sector providing an opportunity to expand Victoria’s vocational education and training (VET) sector to ensure Victorians can access skills and training that industry needs.
The Victorian Government is building on its existing commitment to Free TAFE, through an additional $107 million extension to the Free TAFE funding arrangements by supporting an additional 62,800 places in the Free TAFE program, offering more than 80 Free TAFE courses over the next 3 years.
Since Free TAFE began in 2019, more than 153,000 students have commenced a Free TAFE course. There has never been a better time to train for a job, with the expansion of the Victorian Government’s Free TAFE Initiative putting more courses at people’s fingertips that ever before.
Holmesglen institute is providing the skills that Victorians need for the most in-demand jobs. At the Glen Waverley campus, Holmesglen offer courses in Community Services, Childcare and Social Sciences, Horticulture and Environment, Tourism and Hospitality which are skills that industry needs.
Holmesglen Institute has seven campuses across the Eastern regions and Melbourne CBD including Glen Waverley, with facilities including the Renewable Energy Centre at Moorabbin and the Victorian Tunnelling Centre at Chadstone.
Holmesglen has also embedded deep industry connections and partnerships, allowing for an enrichment of training opportunities in the care economy, bringing together leading hospitals, research laboratories, biotech firms, allied health organisations, childcare and aged care facilities.
The training delivered by Holmesglen also plays an important role in supporting government initiatives such as the Victorian Government’s Big Build.
All Victorian TAFEs, such as Holmesglen, will benefit from better national policy alignment and collaboration through the National Skills Agreement, that represents a shared commitment across the Commonwealth, states, and territories to build a high-quality national VET system focused on improved outcomes for students, with TAFE at its centre.
The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP
Minister for Skills and TAFE
