23 September 2021
EXPANDED FREE TAFE FOR A STRONGER POST-COVID VICTORIA
The free TAFE initiative will be growing to over 60 courses next year - giving local people access to training for more well-paying and meaningful jobs as the state moves through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
Member for Altona District Jill Hennessy today announced that the Certificate III in Information Technology and the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment will both be added to the Free TAFE list at VU Polytechnic, and The Gordon will offer the Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing at its Werribee campus next year.
These certificates are among seven new courses being added next year, giving jobseekers access to world-class training and boosting the veterinary industry by alleviating workforce demands in metropolitan and regional Victoria.
The new additions are part of a regular review of the Free TAFE list, ensuring training meets key government priority areas and skills demands while also boosting the Victorian economy.
Other new courses include the Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership, supporting the recreational and tourism industry, and the Certificate IV in Leisure and Health, funnelling more experts into the health and aged care system.
The Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety will also join the free courses, ensuring every Victorian has a safe experience in their workplace, as well as the Certificate III in Information Technology, Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
The Labor Government’s Free TAFE program began in 2019 to remove barriers to training by allowing eligible students to apply for fully subsidised courses that directly lead to jobs now and into the future. Ninety-three thousand students have started courses – saving $150 million in the first two years.
Last year, the Government announced an investment of $631.4 million to drive economic recovery and increase access to training, which includes $163 million for a Skills for Economic Recovery package announced in July 2020.
This investment will create up to 60,000 new training places over four years in Free TAFE courses and builds on the additional 10,000 Free TAFE places announced in July 2020 as part of the Skills for Economic Recovery Package. The Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment in TAFE and training to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways. Explore your options with Free TAFE at freetafe.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Member for Altona District Jill Hennessy
“Melbourne’s west is blessed with some brilliant training institutions and with some big investments in booming industries to boot so whether you have your sights set on health care, IT, teaching others or even outdoor leadership, the training and the pathways to jobs are available.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“Free TAFE provides high-quality training to get Victorians into some of the state’s most rewarding and in-demand jobs. We heard the calls for veterinary nursing to be added to the Free TAFE list – and we listened.”
“We’ve made a record investment in TAFE and training – including expanding the Free TAFE list to more than 60 courses – which means there’s never been a better time to explore your new career pathway.”
23 September 2021
EXPANDED FREE TAFE FOR A STRONGER POST-COVID VICTORIA
The free TAFE initiative will be growing to over 60 courses next year - giving local people access to training for more well-paying and meaningful jobs as the state moves through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
Member for Altona District Jill Hennessy today announced that the Certificate III in Information Technology and the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment will both be added to the Free TAFE list at VU Polytechnic, and The Gordon will offer the Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing at its Werribee campus next year.
These certificates are among seven new courses being added next year, giving jobseekers access to world-class training and boosting the veterinary industry by alleviating workforce demands in metropolitan and regional Victoria.
The new additions are part of a regular review of the Free TAFE list, ensuring training meets key government priority areas and skills demands while also boosting the Victorian economy.
Other new courses include the Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership, supporting the recreational and tourism industry, and the Certificate IV in Leisure and Health, funnelling more experts into the health and aged care system.
The Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety will also join the free courses, ensuring every Victorian has a safe experience in their workplace, as well as the Certificate III in Information Technology, Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
The Labor Government’s Free TAFE program began in 2019 to remove barriers to training by allowing eligible students to apply for fully subsidised courses that directly lead to jobs now and into the future. Ninety-three thousand students have started courses – saving $150 million in the first two years.
Last year, the Government announced an investment of $631.4 million to drive economic recovery and increase access to training, which includes $163 million for a Skills for Economic Recovery package announced in July 2020.
This investment will create up to 60,000 new training places over four years in Free TAFE courses and builds on the additional 10,000 Free TAFE places announced in July 2020 as part of the Skills for Economic Recovery Package. The Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment in TAFE and training to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways. Explore your options with Free TAFE at freetafe.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Member for Altona District Jill Hennessy
“Melbourne’s west is blessed with some brilliant training institutions and with some big investments in booming industries to boot so whether you have your sights set on health care, IT, teaching others or even outdoor leadership, the training and the pathways to jobs are available.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“Free TAFE provides high-quality training to get Victorians into some of the state’s most rewarding and in-demand jobs. We heard the calls for veterinary nursing to be added to the Free TAFE list – and we listened.”
“We’ve made a record investment in TAFE and training – including expanding the Free TAFE list to more than 60 courses – which means there’s never been a better time to explore your new career pathway.”
Tuesday 14 September 2021
WYNDHAM TO HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, CLOSE TO HOME
As the serious Delta outbreak continues across the state, the Victorian Government is making sure more Victorians struggling during this difficult period have access to the mental health and wellbeing support they need.
On top of the $225 million the Government has already provided to support Victorians’ mental health throughout the pandemic, a further investment of $22 million will deliver fast-tracked, tailored care to those who need it, reducing the burden on emergency departments as the number of coronavirus patients grows.
This pandemic has shown us all the important role our local communities play – and this new package will establish local, accessible services to support the mental health and wellbeing of thousands of Victorians, close to home.
An investment of $13.3 million will deliver 20 pop-up community mental health services – with around 90 dedicated clinicians providing 93,000 additional hours of wellbeing checks and counselling to many thousands of Victorians needing support.
The pop-up centres, to be delivered by trusted community health providers like Mind, cohealth and EACH, will open progressively from the end of September across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with a dedicated triage and referral hotline and website to be established in the coming days so people can start booking appointments.
This investment in the wellbeing of every Victorian also includes dedicated support for specific groups who may be at higher risk of isolation or mental health concerns as a result of the pandemic.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are less likely to engage early with mainstream mental health services, will receive $4 million in support for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to self- determine the best, most culturally appropriate response to the mental health and wellbeing needs of their local communities.
An investment of $1 million will expand the Triple P parenting programs, supporting more than 20,000 Victorian families whose children are experiencing anxiety, while $1.2 million will boost the capacity of peak LGBTIQ+ community organisations including Switchboard, Thorne Harbour Health and Drummond Street Family Services.
A further $1 million will support the mental health workforce to better respond to patients presenting with trauma, and $1.5 million will allow the Royal Children’s Hospital, Vichealth and key partners to better support the most vulnerable groups of children and young people, both now and into the future.
Alongside this extra support, an investment of more than $300 million from the Victorian Budget 2021/22 has started rolling out this week to deliver 14 critical new Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health Services – a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
This year alone, this unprecedented investment will support an extra 1,149 infants, children and young people as well as their families with the tailored support they need – expanding our youth services’ capacity by 14 per cent.
Media Contact: Somhita Chatterjee | 9741 1133 | somhita.chatterjee@parliament.vic.gov.au
Based in hospitals across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the services provide specialist care for high-risk cases and help with early intervention treatment for children and young people experiencing mild and moderate mental health concerns.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health James Merlino
“We’re not wasting a moment delivering the huge reforms the Royal Commission recommended for our state’s mental health services – but we know the pandemic has increased immediate demand, so we’re investing to make sure more Victorians have access to the support they need right now.”
“Our local communities have been so vital in supporting us over the past 18 months – and these innovative local pop-up mental health services will deliver the support people need, close to home.”
Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas
“Creating community care starts within local communities ─ we look forward to rebuilding our mental health system with local services that meet the needs and support that Wyndham deserves”
Quote attributable to Member for Altona Jill Hennessy
“No part of this pandemic has been easy, and I know how tough lockdowns are on families, kids and people who live alone. These pop-ups will help more people reach local mental health services more quickly.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly
“This is about building a mental health system that is fit for purpose – providing the care we need, when we need it, close to home.”
Tuesday 14 September 2021
WYNDHAM TO HAVE MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, CLOSE TO HOME
As the serious Delta outbreak continues across the state, the Victorian Government is making sure more Victorians struggling during this difficult period have access to the mental health and wellbeing support they need.
On top of the $225 million the Government has already provided to support Victorians’ mental health throughout the pandemic, a further investment of $22 million will deliver fast-tracked, tailored care to those who need it, reducing the burden on emergency departments as the number of coronavirus patients grows.
This pandemic has shown us all the important role our local communities play – and this new package will establish local, accessible services to support the mental health and wellbeing of thousands of Victorians, close to home.
An investment of $13.3 million will deliver 20 pop-up community mental health services – with around 90 dedicated clinicians providing 93,000 additional hours of wellbeing checks and counselling to many thousands of Victorians needing support.
The pop-up centres, to be delivered by trusted community health providers like Mind, cohealth and EACH, will open progressively from the end of September across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with a dedicated triage and referral hotline and website to be established in the coming days so people can start booking appointments.
This investment in the wellbeing of every Victorian also includes dedicated support for specific groups who may be at higher risk of isolation or mental health concerns as a result of the pandemic.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are less likely to engage early with mainstream mental health services, will receive $4 million in support for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to self- determine the best, most culturally appropriate response to the mental health and wellbeing needs of their local communities.
An investment of $1 million will expand the Triple P parenting programs, supporting more than 20,000 Victorian families whose children are experiencing anxiety, while $1.2 million will boost the capacity of peak LGBTIQ+ community organisations including Switchboard, Thorne Harbour Health and Drummond Street Family Services.
A further $1 million will support the mental health workforce to better respond to patients presenting with trauma, and $1.5 million will allow the Royal Children’s Hospital, Vichealth and key partners to better support the most vulnerable groups of children and young people, both now and into the future.
Alongside this extra support, an investment of more than $300 million from the Victorian Budget 2021/22 has started rolling out this week to deliver 14 critical new Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health Services – a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
This year alone, this unprecedented investment will support an extra 1,149 infants, children and young people as well as their families with the tailored support they need – expanding our youth services’ capacity by 14 per cent.
Media Contact: Somhita Chatterjee | 9741 1133 | somhita.chatterjee@parliament.vic.gov.au
Based in hospitals across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, the services provide specialist care for high-risk cases and help with early intervention treatment for children and young people experiencing mild and moderate mental health concerns.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health James Merlino
“We’re not wasting a moment delivering the huge reforms the Royal Commission recommended for our state’s mental health services – but we know the pandemic has increased immediate demand, so we’re investing to make sure more Victorians have access to the support they need right now.”
“Our local communities have been so vital in supporting us over the past 18 months – and these innovative local pop-up mental health services will deliver the support people need, close to home.”
Quote attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas
“Creating community care starts within local communities ─ we look forward to rebuilding our mental health system with local services that meet the needs and support that Wyndham deserves”
Quote attributable to Member for Altona Jill Hennessy
“No part of this pandemic has been easy, and I know how tough lockdowns are on families, kids and people who live alone. These pop-ups will help more people reach local mental health services more quickly.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Sarah Connolly
“This is about building a mental health system that is fit for purpose – providing the care we need, when we need it, close to home.”
