GOTAFE’s Goulburn Murray Trade Skills Centre Celebrates First Birthday

GOTAFE were extremely excited to host a First Birthday celebration of the Goulburn Murray Trades Skills Centre in Archer Street Shepparton this week.

The purpose built facility was an initiative of the Better Together Alliance comprising of GOTAFE and the regions four public secondary schools, McGuire College, Shepparton High School, Wanganui Park and Mooroopna Secondary Colleges. It was co funded by the Federal Government, as part of the “Trade Training Centre’s in Schools” initiative, with the aim of increasing the number of students completing Year 12 or an equivalent qualification.

The facility was designed to accommodate changing skill requirements and has provided students with access to a combination of technology based and hands-on skills training. It consists of industry standard equipment and simulated activity areas that accommodate this training.

GOTAFE CEO Travis Heeney says, “The Goulburn Murray Trades Skills Centre was developed in response to skills shortages in the region across the carpentry, joinery and cabinet making industries. This purpose built facility has seen 380 apprentices, pre-apprentices and VET in school students this year, master their trades to meet industry demands.”

Whilst the Goulburn Murray Trades Skills Centre houses the building, construction and cabinet making students, the scope has been expanded and now sees students from Health & Wellbeing courses also utilising the facilities.

As part of their studies, GOTAFE students from Conservation Land Management and Horticulture have been involved in planning, designing and bringing to life the garden spaces around the building.

Students within the Goulburn and Murray Valley areas involved with this project include those from identified socio-disadvantaged educational environments. A goal of the project has been to reduce disadvantage and provide greater opportunity for indigenous, as well as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) students.

Mr. Heeney says, “This magnificent building has allowed students from across GOTAFE access to state of the art facilities, providing real hands on training. We have fostered and strengthened innovative partnerships with industry and other stakeholders critical to our success in enhancing career opportunities for our students across regional Victoria.”