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 awards—a celebration of excellence in our training sector. This year they also especially acknowledge the resilience of our institutes, our teachers, our apprentices, our students, our support staff and industry collaborators. They highlight that even in the face of adversity our sector is strong and up to the challenge of making its important contribution to rebuilding our economy.
Every day over the coming weeks each of the categories will be announced on the Victorian Training Awards Facebook page, and this morning the prestigious Large Training Provider of the Year award category was announced. The winner of this award will represent Victoria at the Australian Training Awards. The three finalists for this prestigious award were GOTAFE, South West TAFE and Box Hill Institute. And the winner of the Large Training Provider of the Year Award for 2020 is South West TAFE. Congratulations to the CEO, Mark Fidge, and all of his team right across the South West TAFE operations at Warrnambool, Portland, Colac and Hamilton. They work closely with industry, and I am really proud of how closely they work with the Learn Local sector to support pathways into TAFE. South West TAFE have done themselves very proud, and I look forward to them continuing to deliver for the local communities in which they have campuses.