MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:26): Last week I had the opportunity to visit Yulong farm near Cavendish to see the progress on the Andrews Labor government’s investment in the shearing industry. As part of our $1.2 million investment, a new shearing app has been created to complement hands-on…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Last week there was great news for communities in the vicinity of the Great Ocean Road, in the south-west of my electorate. I was so pleased to be at Eastern View’s Memorial Arch for the announcement of a fantastic investment of $272.2 million…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): I rise today to update the house on the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Australia’s universities. That is why in May the Treasurer and I established a $350 million higher education state investment…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:41): This week is NAIDOC Week. This year’s theme is ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, recognising that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65 000 years. I think it is fitting during NAIDOC Week to share with the chamber…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:04): I, like others, would like to acknowledge the very heartfelt contributions that this chamber has seen today and thank all of the members for their research and the conversations that they have had leading up to today. Can I also pay specific…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) Woodford Primary is a wonderful school just north of Warrnambool. Its students are a mix of those living in Woodford itself, from nearby rural communities and a number travelling from Warrnambool. The school’s website makes it clear that this school does deliver on a…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:05): I rise to recognise and applaud the work of Victoria’s teachers as we mark today World Teachers Day 2020. In particular I would like to recognise staff in the VET, Learn Local and higher education sectors across all fields and thank teachers, trainers,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:27): This week I announced the Learn Local Awards finalists for 2020, and it was great to make this announcement with the member for Lara, John Eren, at the Rosewall Neighbourhood Centre, which is a finalist in the Volunteer Team Award. Rosewall have…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:24): I would like to begin by thanking members for their contributions on the Worker Screening Bill 2020. This is a bill that will give effect to Victoria’s commitment to the Intergovernmental Agreement on Nationally Consistent Worker Screening for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33): I am pleased to update the chamber on the important work that the Andrews Labor government has been doing to make Victoria’s TAFE system more inclusive and accessible to Victorians with a disability. We know that education and training open doors into…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) In mid-October I had the absolute pleasure to announce some really exciting news to three schools in the State’s south-west—Hampden Specialist School, Terang College and Colac Specialist School. The Andrews Labor government is especially proud of its record in progressively upgrading schools for…
TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:44): I rise today to celebrate the commencement of the 2020 Victorian Training Awards. Of course this year’s awards are looking a little different, being presented as an online series rather than a gala event, but that does not change the importance of these…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:37): I rise to update the chamber on how free TAFE is helping to provide a skilled pipeline of workers that we need now and in the economic recovery from the COVID pandemic. As this house knows, free TAFE has been incredibly successful.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:18): As members of this chamber know, Victoria is the TAFE capital of Australia, and it is the TAFE capital because of the Andrews Labor government’s investment in the system since coming to office. Backing our TAFEs is not just funding courses but…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (10:13): The memorial park at the foot of pier 10 honours and remembers 35 men who lost their lives when the West Gate Bridge collapsed during construction. Today is the 50th anniversary of that terrible industrial disaster where 88 children lost their fathers. Each year there is…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) I rise today to highlight the importance of the fishing industry to Victoria’s economy, and in particular the role of Portland in Victoria’s south-west. Portland’s fishing fleet lands up to 40 per cent of Victoria’s catch. It goes without saying that fishing and aquaculture…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:47): Last week I announced that the expansion of the Skills First Reconnect program was about to take place. It provides tailored, one-on-one support for Victorians who want to study at TAFE or a Learn Local but face challenges that make it more…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) In the 1830s a terrible event occurred near Portland, at a coastal area known as the ‘Convincing Ground’. European whalers, in advance of the wave of squatters who took over much of Western Victoria’s land, brutally wiped out almost all of the Kilcarrer…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:25): I am really pleased to share with the chamber the critical work that the Adult Multicultural Education Services is doing to ensure our culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians do not fall through the cracks during the pandemic. Victoria has a proud history…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:07): This week is an important milestone in the government’s commitment to make TAFE better than ever. On Sunday I announced $55 million worth of TAFE maintenance projects—projects at standalone TAFEs across Victoria—and the list of projects is really exciting. At TAFE Gippsland the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:19): Our regional TAFEs are making a real difference in their communities. Free TAFE is a game changer across the state, and with significant capital works projects well underway in many regional TAFEs, it is even more exciting for them. On top of…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) I rise today to note the value of the Working for Victoria Fund in easing the devastating effect of job loss that is a direct result of COVID-19. I’m heartened to see the cooperation between regional shire councils and organisations like catchment management…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:43): Today marks the start of Adult Learners Week. Adult Learners Week is an annual celebration of the benefits of lifelong learning. This year’s theme is ‘Renew you’, highlighting the power of learning as a tool for improving lives and creating new opportunities.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) I’d like to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s community sport sector COVID-19 survival package. Local sport clubs are close to the heart of regional communities as they provide fun, fitness and social connection. We need local clubs to survive the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) I am pleased to update the house on some fantastic support the Andrews Labor government is giving to Mortlake P–12 College that will set their students and community up for recovery after the COVID pandemic has passed. For the first time this year…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:00): I thank the member for his question. Apprenticeships are incredibly important, and we know that right across the board. This has been the case and a very proud contribution that this government has made in respect to apprenticeships, and during my time…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:04): Can I just correct the record? The fact of the matter is that the most recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research report shows that in the year to December 2019 there was a 7.3 per cent increase in construction trade apprenticeship completions…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:45): I am pleased to provide a summation from the government’s side. This bill is about delivering access to justice for ordinary Victorians by making it easier to bring class actions for things like silicosis, wage theft, consumer harm and other forms of…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (20:46): I move: That the bill be now read a third time. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is: That the bill be now read a third time and do pass. House divided on question: The PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.27, the bill will be…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:24): This week is Refugee Week. Originally celebrated in 1986, the week coincides with World Refugee Day on 20 June each year. This year’s theme is celebrating the Year of Welcome, and I think we can all be proud in this chamber that Victoria has…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:48): I rise to update the house on the critical work of the Andrews Labor government in opening a brand-new state-of-the-art campus at TAFE Gippsland’s port of Sale site. I recently unveiled the new designs for the TAFE Gippsland port of Sale campus,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:00): I am really pleased to update the house on how the Andrews Labor Government is supporting people who have been in out-of-home care to access education and training. Care leavers are significantly less likely to access university after leaving school. For too…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (20:08): From what I have heard of this debate this afternoon and this evening, the opponents of this bill, rather than tackle the substance of the issues, have sought to prosecute and will prosecute an amendment that will delay the introduction of this…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (23:08): I move: That the bill be now read a third time. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is: That the bill be now read a third time and do pass. House divided on question: The PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.27, the bill…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:11): Can I begin by acknowledging the families and friends of the victims whose lives have been dramatically changed as a result of their connection with the crimes that we will be talking about today, and I do extend my best wishes and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:29): I move:
That the bill be now read a third time.
Motion agreed to.
Read third time.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Pursuant to standing order 14.24, the bill will be transmitted to the Assembly with a message requesting their agreement.
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:24): On 15 May I announced the retrenched apprentices and trainees program, a collaboration between the Victorian government and the Apprenticeship Employment Network, the peak body of group training organisations here in Victoria. History tells us that at times like these, hard economic times,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:02): I move: That the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Motion agreed to. Ms TIERNEY: I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: I’d like to start by taking an opportunity to thank those people,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:03): I move:
That the bill be now read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Read first time.
Ms TIERNEY: I move, by leave:
That the second reading be taken forthwith.
Motion agreed to.
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:04): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:04): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter), I make this statement of compatibility with respect to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:04): I move: That the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Motion agreed to. Ms TIERNEY: I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: The purpose of this Bill is to amend: 1. The Petroleum Act 1998…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:05): I move:
That the bill be now read a first time.
Motion agreed to.
Read first time.
Ms TIERNEY: I move, by leave:
That the second reading be taken forthwith.
Motion agreed to.
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:05): I lay on the table a statement of compatibility with the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006: In accordance with section 28 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Charter), I make this Statement of Compatibility with respect to the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (18:05): I move, by leave: That the second-reading speech be incorporated into Hansard. Motion agreed to. Ms TIERNEY: I move: That the bill be now read a second time. Incorporated speech as follows: This Bill will deliver on the Victorian Government’s commitment to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:11): Can I begin by acknowledging the families and friends of the victims whose lives have been dramatically changed as a result of their connection with the crimes that we will be talking about today, and I do extend my best wishes and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:40): I rise today to pay tribute to the residents of Western Victoria for managing an unprecedented time in education across both the state school system and the independent school system. This time of COVID-19 has certainly given new meaning to the concept…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:30): The fact of the matter is that we have started traversing this. As I mentioned previously in response to a question by Mr Rich-Phillips, the Treasurer and I made an announcement on 19 May in respect of universities and assistance that will hopefully mitigate…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:56): It was just over two years ago that our government first announced the free TAFE for priority courses initiative. The initiative was rolled out for its first year in 2019. Everyone on this side of the house backed free TAFE every step…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:38): I rise to acknowledge the passing of a former member for Melbourne Province and good friend, Doug Walpole. Doug’s contribution to working people and progressive politics is well recognised across the labour movement, initially through his time as an Electrical Trades Union…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:23): Last week I had the opportunity to visit the new facilities of Southern Grampians Adult Education, located at the South West TAFE campus in Warrnambool. SGAE is a Learn Local provider. They deliver education and training programs for so many in the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:38): I rise to update the house on the brand-new GOTAFE Wallan campus, which I had the pleasure of opening last week. There was an absolute buzz in these new facilities, as I was joined by my parliamentary colleagues Minister Jac Symes and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:57): I rise to update the house on the work being done in our training and skills system in response to the coronavirus. As the Premier has said, the coming weeks and months will be tough on everyone. It will be tough on…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:31): I rise today to congratulate Wannon Water for its fantastic carbon neutrality action plan, which is delivering an Australian first in Portland. By investing $4.2 million in a 50-metre-high wind turbine that will reduce carbon emissions by an average of 2500 tonnes a year,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07): Last week I had the pleasure of attending the first graduation of the certificate III in learning an endangered Aboriginal language. This Victorian-first course started in 2018 and continued throughout 2019. The certificate gives students the understanding, skills and resources to build up…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:17): I rise today to congratulate two organisations that are doing a fantastic job in extending creative opportunities in south-west Victoria. Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery at Cororooke has received $75 000 to create a space for workshops, rehearsals and performance plus a…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:45): I rise to share that Wodonga TAFE was recently awarded the Australian Defence Force driver machinery and plant training services contract at the army school of transport at Puckapunyal. This is an outstanding achievement for a TAFE. The contract spans up to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:27): Last week was an important milestone for Melbourne’s west. I had the pleasure of joining Legislative Council colleagues Ingrid Stitt and Cesar Melhem, along with the member for St Albans, Natalie Suleyman, in the other place, to officially open Victoria University Polytechnic’s Sunshine…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:15): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to note that 28 Western Victoria constituents have been recognised with Australia Day awards. Three became AMs—members of the Order of Australia—20 were awarded Medals of the Order of Australia, two received Australian Fire…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:53:38): I rise today to reflect on the contribution to regional Victoria, and especially western Victoria, made by Geoff Handbury, PhD, AO. Mr Handbury died this week, aged 94, after a lifetime supporting the community at a local, regional, state and even national level.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:28:38): Last Thursday I had the opportunity to attend the Australian Training Awards. The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards for the vocational education and training sector, and again this year Victorian TAFEs did not disappoint. For the fourth year in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:37:55): Like so many other people in the chamber today I also have a deep personal association with this issue. The first time I knew of workplace deaths, I think, was from stories that my great-grandmother and my grandmother told me about what…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:22:58): Last Sunday marked the year anniversary of the re-elected Andrews Labor government. The gift of government is something we do not take for granted, and we have not wasted a day since. We have continued our proud record of building an education…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (17:50:20): I will try to be fairly quick with this, in responding to comments that have been made. In addressing this matter, firstly, I wish to indicate that I do have some answers to a number of questions that have been raised. There…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:06:39): Today is a historic day for adult community education in this state. At lunchtime today I will officially launch the ministerial statement on The Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020–25. The ministerial statement will give the sector the acknowledgement and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:08:53): Last night I had the privilege of attending the formal opening of the Geelong Arts Centre, the revitalised and redeveloped facility that was funded by the Andrews Labor government to the tune of $37 million, and it certainly is a great facility.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:19:41): I thank all the members who have contributed to this debate today and given accounts of what has been occurring in their electorates. In particular Mr Meddick, who shares my electorate, outlined some of the things that our constituents have faced in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:17:19): What I can advise the house is that when I go around and visit TAFEs, which I do on a very regular basis, people advise me that their classrooms are full and that there is a real emphasis on completing their course…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:14:41): This is sort of a re-run in terms of a matter that was before the media during the winter recess. Clearly the member still has not got the memo, and the memo is this: that the data is two years old. It…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08:36): I again thank the member for giving me an opportunity to talk about TAFE and free TAFE. I can say that I am a little bit surprised that Ms Wooldridge, who normally conducts herself, I think, in a very, very professional manner,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:05:39): I am aware of the comments made by the shadow minister, Tanya Plibersek, in relation to the underspend. It is very disappointing that that money was not spent in a way that was more targeted in areas where there are government priorities,…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:31:20): I am pleased to rise and inform the house of a new Andrews government initiative announced last week to support free TAFE students to complete their studies. Last Wednesday I joined the member for Nepean, Chris Brayne, at the Chisholm Mornington Peninsula…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:26): I rise to update the chamber on how the reintroduction of trade papers by the Andrews government is rebuilding the status of apprenticeships. Last week I visited Ringwood Training with a member for Eastern Metropolitan Region, Sonja Terpstra, who is an absolute…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33): I thank Dr Cumming for raising this question. The provision of post-school education in our suburbs and our regional towns and provision for our rural communities is incredibly important but particularly so in areas where we have high population growth. I can advise…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:35): I thank Dr Cumming for her question again. The area of adult education is incredibly important and it is part of the post-school sector. I have had a lot of engagement in that sector in recent times. I called a summit of…
MS TIERNEY: Taya Davies from Barwon Heads is the 2020 Victoria Young Australian of the Year. Taya works with the Department of Education and Training in the Geelong region in support of disengaged young people of high school age, currently as a coordinator and manager. She brings her social values not only to these programs…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (13:08:21): I rise today to celebrate the achievements of two people whose work has impacted on the lives of western Victorians. I begin by congratulating Archie Roach, iconic musician and performer, who has been named the 2020 Victoria Australian of the Year. Archie…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:44:45): I wish to update the house on capital works in the TAFE sector. Recently I joined the Premier, along with the member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke, the member for Mordialloc, Tim Richardson, and the member for Nepean, Chris Brayne, at Chisholm lnstitute’s…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (10:02:09): Last week I had the opportunity to take a close look at a project that will improve road usage not only for locals from Colac and its region but for all who use the Princes Highway through western Victoria. The replacement of…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:12:46): I would like to update the house on the Raising Expectations program. Last week I joined the member for Bayswater, Jackson Taylor, at Swinburne’s Croydon campus. We met with a number of the participating students in the Raising Expectations program. This program…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:40:28): I rise today to share a recent experience in which I felt privileged to gain an insight into what it means to live with a disability. I attended the opening in Geelong of Back to Back Theatre’s production The Shadow Whose Prey…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33:54): I wish to update the house on the Wurreker Awards and Indigenous language courses. Recently I had the pleasure of attending my third Wurreker Awards at the Aborigines Advancement League. The awards are an annual event hosted by the Victorian Aboriginal Education…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:55:00): Today I rise to inform the house of fantastic programs being put into practice in Western Victoria. Congratulations to the recently announced finalists in the Victorian Early Years Awards; seven of the 20 are located in my electorate. They are Delkaia Aboriginal…
MS TIERNEY: In the south-west, four colleges—Apollo Bay P–12 College, Lavers Hill K–12 College, Lorne P–12 College and Colac Secondary College—are leading the way in supporting the mental health needs of regional Victorians. Recruitment is already underway to appoint mental health practitioners to work with students in each school every week starting in term 4.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:13:01): I rise to update the house on Australia’s performance at the recent WorldSkills event in Russia, commonly known as the Olympics of skills and training. Recently our Australian representatives, known as the Skillaroos, including three Victorians, returned home after finishing eighth out…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:40:54): I rise to share several inspiring achievements of residents of Western Victoria. Last Friday I presented the Victorian Training Awards to some fantastic individuals. Outstanding amongst those is Tanya McDonald. Tanya’s award of Koorie Student of the Year recognises a student who…
MS TIERNEY: On another note, two constituents were recognised in the Ricci Marks Awards for outstanding young Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a range of fields. Staycee Charles won one of the top awards, which brings a bursary of $5000, for her work in climate change advocacy. Her passion for protecting the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:40): I rise to update the chamber on the outstanding success of regional Victoria at this year’s Victorian Training Awards last Friday night. Now in its 65th year, the Victorian Training Awards recognise the achievements of Victoria’s VET sector. Regional Victoria won big-time…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:33:46): Last month I joined the Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne, and a member for Northern Victoria Region, Wendy Lovell, at the launch of the Education First Youth Foyer evaluation report. Youth foyers provide accommodation and training facilities for young people who are…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:55:28): It is with great pleasure that I rise today to congratulate the members of Find Your Voice all-abilities choir from Warrnambool on their recent successes. The choir, led by inspiring Warrnambool musician Tom Richardson and facilitator Kylie Thulborn, was recently awarded the…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:11): I rise to update the house on data relating to participation in the Victorian training system. Yesterday the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, commonly known as NCVER, released its report on government-funded students and courses for the first quarter of 2019.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:31:27): This morning I rise to update the house on the tremendous success of Labor’s free TAFE initiative. More than 25 000 students had commenced training in free TAFE courses at the end of June this year, almost double the commencements in these…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:45:35): The Queen’s Birthday weekend saw the small Bellarine village of Portarlington transformed as the National Celtic Festival hit town. This festival attracts not only international and interstate performers but thousands of visitors. It is a festival that relies on the work of its…
MS TIERNEY: On another note I congratulate Warrnambool East Primary School on an absolutely wonderful achievement: first prize winner of the Community Leadership School of the Year in last week’s 2019 ResourceSmart Schools Awards, announced by Minister D’Ambrosio at the MCG. Warrnambool East Primary School were among a wide field of schools recognised for their…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:30:47): I wish to inform the house about a pilot that is helping to break down barriers when it comes to obtaining work in the construction industry. While there is a high demand for workers in this industry, thanks in no small part…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:12:52): I rise to update the house on matters pertaining to Federation Training—or it was previously known as Federation Training. Following extensive consultations with the Gippsland communities, Federation Training has now been renamed TAFE Gippsland. This new name means that local students will…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:18:15): I thank the member again for her surprising new and renewed and unexpected interest in TAFE, let alone free TAFE. The reality is that this government has encouraged partnership models between industry, private providers and TAFE. We have done that for a…
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (14:14:55): I am pleased to rise and contribute to this debate. As I understand it, four members from western Victoria will speak on this motion today. That is of little surprise given that, one, we represent the area but, two, I think everyone that…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:14:19): Today I wish to update the house on a valuable education initiative that highlights the unique and important role played by Learn Locals. The financial literacy for women affected by family violence initiative is jointly run by the Department of Education and…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (09:43:47): Today I congratulate Lorne P–12 College for its outstanding achievement in engaging students in the Victorian certificate of applied learning (VCAL). Principal Shane Elevato and his staff deliver a program that is an exemplar to educators and schools in Western Victoria. Their…