MORE EVENTS FOR YOUNG VICTORIANS

The Andrews Labor Government is providing a $25 million funding boost for youth programs, offering more opportunities for young people to reconnect with their communities as the state recovers from the pandemic. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced that five organisations in Western Victoria will share in $10.2 million through the FReeZA…

SPRUCING UP FORREST PRIMARY SCHOOL

As the school year draws to a close, the Andrews Labor Government is supporting Forrest Primary School to complete a small but vital upgrade through the Minor Capital Works Fund. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced Forrest Primary School will share in more than $18.6 million to fast-track their highest priority project…

A BIG BOOST FOR INCLUSION IN PORTLAND

Sensory play equipment, outdoor learning spaces and kitchen gardens are among a number of innovative school building projects the Andrews Labor Government is supporting, making sure every Victorian student has the opportunity to fully participate and succeed. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced Portland Bay School will share in more than $6.6…

UPGRADE WORKS FOR SCHOOLS IN WARRNAMBOOL AND ALLANSFORD NOW COMPLETE

Students in Victoria’s south west now have access to the first-rate school facilities they deserve with the Andrews Labor Government completing upgrades at Warrnambool Primary School and Allansford and District Primary School. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced works are now complete on Warrnambool Primary School’s minor works upgrade, which included the…

PLAN FOR FUTURE OF TOWER HILL RELEASED

A plan for the future of Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve near Warrnambool will secure one of Victoria’s most important conservation and cultural heritage areas for all to enjoy. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced the release of the final Tower Hill Activation and Linkages Plan after a second round of community consultation received nearly 250 submissions. The Victorian…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:23): On the final sitting day of Parliament this year I am proud to rise to speak on the significant opportunities that have been created by the TAFE demonstration projects, which are delivering brilliant apprenticeship and training opportunities at the South West TAFE learning…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: OLIVINE PLACE

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:16): On Monday morning I had the great pleasure to officially open the shared space community centre at Olivine Place, Donnybrook, the first-ever growth area social planning tool partnership in Australia. Olivine Place is such an amazing place. I would encourage anyone to go…

HELPING NEW VICTORIAN KIDS IN VICTORIA’S SOUTH WEST SETTLE INTO SCHOOL

Children arriving in Victoria’s south west with low levels of English will be supported to learn the language and integrate into mainstream schools, with the Victorian Government supporting English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers and multicultural education aides to help new arrivals feel at home. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: COVID-19 VACCINATION

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Bevan Hirst is a fourth-year medical student at Deakin University in Geelong. He recently signed up to our frontline workforce to help get more jabs in Victorian arms. Nearly 600 Victorian university students just like Bevan have signed up since we announced a…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: REMEMBRANCE DAY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: I was honoured to attend Portarlington’s Remembrance Day ceremony and pleased to have my staff attend services in other beautiful and diverse locations, like the Point Danger memorial wall in Torquay, and in Ballarat,…

NEW EQUIPMENT FOR WESTERN VICTORIA’S EMERGENCY SERVICES

The Andrews Labor Government has invested $466,706 in emergency services in Western Victoria to provide essential emergency services equipment and minor facility upgrades. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced 25 local Country Fire Authority (CFA), Life Saving Victoria (LSV), Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) and Victorian State Emergency Services (VICSES) would receive…

NEW EQUIPMENT FOR SOUTH WEST VICTORIA’S EMERGENCY SERVICES

The Andrews Labor Government has invested $535,706 in emergency services in Victoria’s south west to provide essential emergency services equipment and minor facility upgrades. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced 19 local Country Fire Authority (CFA), Life Saving Victoria (LSV), Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) and Victorian State Emergency Services (VICSES) would…

MEMBERS STATEMENTS: DEMENTIA AUSTRALIA

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: Today I rise to reflect on the important work of Dementia Australia, the peak body of people living with dementia, their families and carers. Its recent findings, that a dementia diagnosis results in discrimination,…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: CYBERSECURITY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:25): I use this opportunity to update the house on cybersecurity courses. Building opportunities and supporting partnerships between TAFEs, universities and industry remain a dedicated focus of the Andrews Labor government. Cybersecurity was identified as a major priority of this government, and that…

SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PROTECT LOCAL BIODIVERSITY

Young people from across Western Victoria will benefit from the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants, helping to fund projects and learning activities that provide both environmental and educational outcomes for young people. Labor Member for Wester Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced that 6 projects in south-west Victoria were funded through the Victorian Junior Landcare…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN TRAINING AWARDS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:55): Recently the Victorian government held the 67th annual Victorian Training Awards. People from right through Victoria joined us online to celebrate our world-class training system. Today I would like to highlight the achievements of our students and apprentices who were recognised at…

COASTAL COMMUNITIES SHARE IN COASTCARE FUNDING

Community and non-profit groups along the Victoria’s south-west coast will share in nearly $610,000 statewide funding from the Victorian Government’s Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced funding is being provided to seven community and non-profit groups in south-west Victoria.  Grant recipients include: Apollo Bay Ocean Care –…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:11): I am pleased to update the chamber on the work underway to revive Aboriginal languages across Victoria. Preserving and reviving Aboriginal languages should be core business for any government. We cannot change the past, but we can work hard to right the…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: VICTORIAN SKILLS AUTHORITY

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:21): Today I am proud to speak on the Victorian Skills Authority, which was established in July to build on this government’s significant achievements in skills and training and job creation. The VSA was a key recommendation of the Skills for Victoria’s Growing…

FIREARMS AND OTHER ACTS AMENDMENT BILL 2021

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (22:07): I thank members for their contributions tonight in what is an important debate and for highlighting the importance of firearm safety as well as the benefits of other reforms that the government is wanting to introduce. Members have spoken about the importance…

TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:03) I thank Mr Meddick for his support of TAFE and free TAFE in particular. It is great to have genuine champions of the TAFE system in the chamber, Mr Meddick. Can I say that what is being proposed here has been based on a…

JUNE BRADBURY AND MERLE MITCHELL

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: Today I rise to pay tribute to two extraordinary women who have contributed so much to the people and communities of Victoria and have sadly passed away: June Bradbury, OAM, 19 June 1964 to 3 September…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIPS

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:08): Every Victorian should have the chance to get a job that they want, no matter their background, identity or gender. That is why I was proud to launch the $5 million Women in Apprenticeships initiative last week. It will remove barriers for women…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:07): Free TAFE has been an incredible success since its commencement in 2019. So many Victorians have accessed free TAFE since it began—over 93 000 Victorians, in fact. Free TAFE is building the pipeline of skilled workers that we need for our hospitals, for our…

KINDER UPGRADE BLITZ TO IMPROVE FACILITIES IN COLAC AND CAMPERDOWN

The Victorian Government is making sure young children have access to the best kinder facilities with hundreds of projects to upgrade and improve learning environments while supporting local jobs across Victoria. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced that kindergartens in Colac and Camperdown have been given $360,995 in funding to upgrade amenities…

Ministers statements: research and development funding

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:13): The Andrews Labor government’s investment in research and infrastructure at our universities is significant and unprecedented, not just here in Victoria but also recognised across Australia. Earlier this week you may have heard the University of Sydney’s vice-chancellor express his admiration for the…

WARRNAMBOOL AND DISTRICT FOOD SHARE

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council of 7 September: I’m very pleased to draw the house’s attention to the achievements of Warrnambool and District Food Share, and to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Dedy Friebe, who has worked tirelessly as executive officer for…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:27): Today I am proud to speak of two trailblazing research projects that are great examples of the kinds of initiatives that will help drive Victoria’s COVID-19 recovery through more jobs, skills and research: the BatTRI-Hub 2.0 at Deakin University’s Burwood campus and…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: ADULT COMMUNITY EDUCATION

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:08): Today I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the adult community education sector. Adult Learners Week has just taken place, and it puts the spotlight on a sector that changes lives. In Victoria we are dedicated to an education system that…

TAFE FUNDING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:34): I do thank the member for his question and the opportunity to talk through the position of ambassador for TAFE. Of course I will continue to heavily promote TAFE. I do not think there could be any criticism whatsoever in terms of me…

Ministers statements: TAFE funding

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:25): I am pleased to rise and update the chamber on the fantastic success of free TAFE in getting Victorians into jobs and giving more Victorians access to training. Labor is the party of TAFE. We are the party that invests in TAFE and…

Ministers statements: TAFE funding

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:29): Teachers are important, and that is why the Andrews Labor government recently launched a new TAFE teacher recruitment campaign and TAFE teacher scholarship program. We promised that we would rebuild TAFE, and we have. TAFE enrolments are higher than in our first year…

Heywood Indigenous War Memorial Mural

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Incorporated pursuant to order of Council earlier this day: I am so pleased to note that Heywood’s Indigenous war memorial mural is now complete, and that it is being really well received by the south-west Victorian community. This project is all about remembering…

HELPING MOTORSPORT CLUBS IN WESTERN VICTORIA REV BACK INTO ACTION

Tomorrow’s motorsport stars in Western Victoria will soon be enjoying better equipment and training opportunities with the Andrews Labor Government fuel-injecting more than $750,000 into local initiatives thanks to Round 2 of the Community Motorsport Program. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced that six motorsport clubs in Western Victoria had scored almost…

Ministers statements: Respect and Equality in TAFE

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): Today I am proud to speak of Respect and Equality in TAFE, a project that I had the privilege to launch last week. At the heart of this project is ‘change the story’, and that is to achieve gender equality and prevent gender-based…

BIRREGURRA RECREATION RESERVE SCORES $250,000 TOWARDS OVAL LIGHTING

Birregurra Recreation Reserve is among 73 projects to score a share in $22 million from the Victorian Government’s 2021 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. With overwhelming demand for shovel-ready community sports infrastructure across Victoria, the fund is supporting projects across five categories including Better Indoor Stadiums, Female Friendly Facilities, Community Sports Lighting, Facilities for Active Seniors,…

ANDREWS LABOR GOVERNMENT KICKS IN FOR GOLDEN PLAINS SPORT

Leighdale Equestrian Centre and Bannockburn’s Victoria Park are among 73 projects to score a share in $22 million from the Victorian Government’s 2021 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. With overwhelming demand for shovel-ready community sports infrastructure across Victoria, the fund is supporting projects across five categories including Better Indoor Stadiums, Female Friendly Facilities, Community Sports Lighting,…

WORK STARTS ON BEEAC SCHOOL UPGRADE

Better facilities are on their way for students at Beeac Primary School with works commencing on an important upgrade thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced works are underway at Beeac Primary School to install new fencing and complete landscaping works. The Labor Government has provided $69,120 towards…

PORTLAND SCHOOLS UPGRADES A STEP CLOSER

Students in Portland are a step closer to getting the facilities they need for a great start in life, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced Ed Ewers Architect has been appointed to design Portland South Primary School’s $500,000 upgrade. The project will include refurbishing the roof,…

WORK STARTS ON WOODFORD SCHOOL UPGRADE

Students in Woodford are a step closer to getting the facilities they need for a great start in life, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced works are underway at Woodford Primary School to upgrade the playground, install new equipment and complete landscaping works. The Labor Government…

BIRREGURRA RECREATION RESERVE SCORES $250,000 TOWARDS OVAL LIGHTING

Birregurra Recreation Reserve is among 73 projects to score a share in $22 million from the Victorian Government’s 2021 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund. With overwhelming demand for shovel-ready community sports infrastructure across Victoria, the fund is supporting projects across five categories including Better Indoor Stadiums, Female Friendly Facilities, Community Sports Lighting, Facilities for Active Seniors,…

COVID-19

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:16): Barwon Heads has shown how a local community can pull together to help each other through the challenges of COVID-19. This small Bellarine village, best known as a holiday destination, showed us the best of community spirit. When a family contracted COVID-19, many…

REGIONAL RECOVERY FUNDING FOR GREATER GEELONG

The Andrews Labor Government is accelerating regional Victoria’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by investing in the Greater Geelong region to create jobs and stimulate the local economy. Geelong Labor Government Members today announced support of more than $1.7M for seven local projects. The allocation is part of a $10 million investment in more than…

SUPPORTING REGIONAL RECOVERY IN WESTERN VICTORIA

The Andrews Labor Government is accelerating regional Victoria’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by investing in Victoria’s south west to create jobs and stimulate the local economy. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced support of $212,875 for projects in the Colac Otway, Golden Plains, Moyne, Glenelg, Corangamite and Warrnambool City Council areas. The allocation is…

ROAD SAFETY GRANTS TO BOOST SAFETY IN THE WEST

Western Victoria will receive a boost from the Victorian Government for community road safety initiatives to reduce road trauma. Schools, councils and not-for-profit organisations in Western Victoria are among a number of areas across the state benefiting from the latest round of Community Road Safety Grants Program. The $1.5 million program will deliver targeted education…

WESTERN VICTORIAN SPORT CLUBS HIT BY RECENT RESTRICTIONS SCORE BOOST

The Victorian Government is getting right behind even more grassroots sporting clubs and organisations in Western Victoria that have been impacted by recent coronavirus lockdown actions. Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced twelve clubs and organisations in Western Victoria had secured grants of $2,000 through the   including Category 5 – Community Sport…

HELPING WESTERN VICTORIA’S SPORT AND ACTIVE RECREATION ORGANISATIONS SURVIVE AND THRIVE

Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today announced 25 local sporting and recreation organisations will share in $38,500 in funding under the latest round of the Victorian Government’s Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Short-term Survival Package. The successful organisations are: Colac Indoor Tennis and Sports Centre $1500 Great Ocean Road Ten Pin Bowling $1500 South…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: TAFE SECTOR

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:36): The Andrews Labor government is making the TAFE and training system better than ever. Now, some people in the chamber have some very short memories, and I would too if I had been part of a party that tried to decimate TAFE. We…

MINISTERS STATEMENTS: AGRICULTURE TRAINING

MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Last Thursday the Minister for Agriculture and I met with the member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, at Western Plains Pork near Rokeford to announce a review into the future of agriculture training in Victoria. Since coming to government we have made important…