Emergency funding has been announced to help the State’s TAFE and training facilities endure the coronavirus pandemic, currently impacting on the community.
The Premier, Daniel Andrews joined the Minister for Education, James Merlino and Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney to announce the $260.8 million package.
Mr Andrews said the funding included a $191.9 million guarantee to lock in financial support at pre-COVID-19 levels and $68.9 million in crisis support to ensure the State’s public training system responds and recovers from the effects of the pandemic.
“The funding will help our TAFEs and training provider’s transition to delivering more online and remote learning, keep staff on, and continue teaching skills that will be critical in the fight against coronavirus,” Mr Andrews said.
“Free TAFE is already providing a pipeline of nurses and other essential health care workers,” he said.
“More courses in fields like infection control and first aid [are] coming online this week.”
Mr Andrews said the package provided TAFEs, dual sector TAFEs, Learn Local providers and AMES Australia across Victoria funding certainty until the middle of the year.
“Together, these providers teach around 330,000 vocational and community education students,” he said.
Mr Andrews said the Government would continue working with TAFE and training providers and was ready to allocate more money to support the sector if necessary.
