MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:27): Last week I was in Warrnambool to announce the construction of the state-of-the-art learning and library hub at South West TAFE as part of the Big Build apprenticeship program. The learning and library hub is an investment that will benefit all community…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:21): Next week we celebrate Cultural Diversity Week, which coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians make significant contributions to our society. It is our commitment to enhance capacity and build opportunities via…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:51): The Andrews Labor government’s $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund continues to provide much-needed stimulus to Victoria’s universities as they respond to the challenges of COVID-19. Last week I joined Darren Cheeseman, the member for South Barwon, at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:39:019:): Two weeks ago I joined Minister D’Ambrosio and Steve Dimopoulos in Clayton to announce the Andrews government’s $10 million investment in the Victorian Hydrogen Hub. This grant, which was awarded to Swinburne University of Technology, is the government’s latest investment in the university…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): I rise today to discuss this government’s commitment to apprentices and the value of an apprenticeship. Members will be aware that in this year’s budget we are investing over $33 million in the Big Build apprenticeship program and almost $20 million in growing apprenticeships.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:15): In 2016 the Andrews Labor government proudly released Marrung, our 10-year Aboriginal education plan. Marrung’s vision is simple. We want a state where every Koori person achieves their potential, succeeds in life and feels strong in their cultural identity. We want Koori…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:09): I am pleased today to rise and update the house on the Skills for Victoria’s Growing Economy review. As members will know, this is a major review commissioned by the government to reform and revitalise our post-secondary education and training system to…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (11:23): We know Victorian universities have been hit hard by the fallout of COVID. We also know what a critical role Victorian universities play in our economy and communities. That is why the Andrews government has established the $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:08): I rise today to discuss this government’s commitment to apprentices and the value of an apprenticeship. Members will be aware that in this year’s budget we are investing over $33 million in the Big Build apprenticeship program and almost $20 million in growing apprenticeships.…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:25): I am pleased to share with the house the role that free TAFE will play in Victoria’s economic and social recovery. We have all seen the success of free TAFE since it began in 2019—significant increases in enrolments in priority courses, significant…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:11): As our state recovers stronger and fairer, the Andrews Labor government is making sure every Victorian has the support they need to get back to work. Thanks to a billion-dollar boost TAFE will be at the heart of our economic recovery, and…
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) (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) (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) (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…
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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (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) (12:57): 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) (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) (12:28:38): 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) (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) (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) (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) (12:07:11): 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) (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) (12:14:19): 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) (12:40:31): On Monday I joined the vice-chancellor of RMIT, Martin Bean, at the reopening of the iconic Capitol theatre on Swanston Street in the city. By investing $2.5 million in the Capitol’s refurbishment, the Andrews Labor government has helped to make this world-class…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (14:04:40): Today I want to inform the house of yet another example of how the Andrews government’s revitalisation of Victoria’s TAFE system is changing people’s lives. In March I had the pleasure of opening the Berwick Centre for Health at the Chisholm Institute…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:21:56): I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s further investment in Victoria’s TAFE infrastructure. Prior to last year’s state election Labor announced a $220 million Building Better TAFEs Fund, the largest single investment in Victoria’s TAFE asset portfolio in…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:28): I rise to update the house on an additional two courses that will be added to Labor’s free TAFE course list as a result of Monday’s state budget. Next year the certificate III in early childhood education and care and the diploma…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:07:28): I rise to update the house on an additional two courses that will be added to Labor’s free TAFE course list as a result of Monday’s state budget. Next year the certificate III in early childhood education and care and the diploma…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:32:21): Recently I had the pleasure of visiting GOTAFE’s Shepparton campus to speak firsthand with staff and students who are part of this growing institute. There is absolutely no doubt that GOTAFE is turning the institution around. This has happened through the sheer…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:37:06): On 29 March I was privileged to take part in the installation of the new chancellor of La Trobe University, the Honourable John Brumby, AO. John, who served as Premier of this great state from 2007 to 2010, could not be a…
MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria — Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:37:34): My ministers statement today is on the importance of not only training in regional communities but training that leads to good, sustainable jobs. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting workers at Benalla’s LS Precast facility who supply precast…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:47:44) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s support for Victoria’s adult and community education providers known as Learn Locals. On 30 August 2018 I attended the 2018 Victorian Learn Local Awards and announced a new $5 million program to boost literacy, numeracy and language training for…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (10:27:38) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s game-changing free TAFE for priority courses initiative. I was delighted to join the Premier and Deputy Premier at Melbourne Polytechnic, Greensborough campus, for the opening of the Banyule-Nillumbik Tech School, a campus reopened by this government…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:47:30) — I rise to update the house on the funding boost provided to Auslan training in regional Victoria by the Andrews Labor government. For the first time people in regional Victoria will be able to study Auslan qualifications up to diploma level without having to travel to Melbourne,…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) (09:53:21) — I rise to inform the house that the new Post Sentence Authority, charged with overseeing many of Victoria’s most serious criminals, has officially started work. The independent authority with its inaugural chair, Judge Ian Gray, will assume the role that the Adult Parole Board of Victoria (APB) played previously, but…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:55:47) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s skills and jobs centres and the recent extension of services they provide for the Victorian community. This afternoon I will have the pleasure of launching the Bendigo Kangan Institute’s skills and jobs centre bus on the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:36:47) — I rise to inform the house of Labor’s steady progress on making Victoria safe. Labor has increased frontline police by over 640 since 2014. As we would all be aware, this has led to a 6.3 per cent decrease in the last crime stats report. This is the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) (12:43:42) — I rise to update the house on the fire that took place at the privately operated Port Phillip Prison in the early hours of 29 November. Thankfully all staff were safely evacuated and prisoner accommodation was not impacted by the fire. While the cause of the fire is being investigated,…
Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) (12:44:58) — I rise to update the house on an important Andrews Labor government program to reduce the spread of bloodborne viruses such as hepatitis B and C both in the community and in the corrections system. Rates of hepatitis C are much higher amongst prisoners than in the general population, with a…
Ms TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) (09:58:58) — I rise this morning to talk about the Victorian Training Awards. I had the pleasure and the privilege of presenting our training awards to vocational education and training (VET) students, teachers, training providers and employers, recognising and honouring their outstanding achievements. These awards showcase not only the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s strong commitment to Victoria’s training and TAFE system through National Skills Week. National Skills Week, which starts on 28 August, is an opportunity for our TAFEs and other training providers to showcase the fantastic training and skill development…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s important programs that assist in the rehabilitation of prisoners, in particular Aboriginal prisoners in the corrections system. Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of launching the Koori Art Trail expansion at the beautiful Beaufort Lake, which features 12 artworks painted…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews Labor government’s investment in Victoria’s TAFE system and in particular the Holmesglen Institute of TAFE. Last Thursday I had the pleasure of joining the member for Bentleigh in the Legislative Assembly, Nick Staikos, to officially open the new $8 million…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s support for apprentices in Victoria. As part of the 2017–18 budget, last Tuesday I announced an $8.2 million boost for apprentice support officers to ensure that Victoria’s first-year apprentices aged under 25 have the support they need to learn…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s initiatives to further protect the Victorian community from violent and sexual offending. Recently I had the pleasure of officially opening the Catalyst Consortium at Swinburne University of Technology, which is conducting world-leading research into serious violent and sexual offending. With…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s support for Learn Locals in Victoria. On Friday, 10 March, at the Wyndham Community and Education Centre — — Honourable members interjecting. The PRESIDENT — Order! Ms Tierney, can you start from the beginning? Unfortunately there was some noise across the chamber and…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s programs to strengthen Aboriginal prisoners’ cultural connections and reduce recidivism through grants worth almost $2.5 million. Last Thursday, 16 March, I joined the member for Geelong in the Legislative Assembly, Christine Couzens, at the Aboriginal Justice Forum in Geelong to announce the…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to update the house on the Andrews government’s Stronger TAFE Fund program, for which I announced a total of $24.3 million in funding over three years at regional TAFEs last week. On Tuesday I had the pleasure of joining the member for Bendigo West in the other…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Corrections) — As part of the Andrews government’s response to the Harper review into the post-sentence management of serious offenders, on 13 February I announced that Labor will build a 20-bed secure facility to house Victoria’s most serious adult offenders near Ararat. The facility will be located next to the Hopkins…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of joining the member for St Albans in the Legislative Assembly, Natalie Suleyman, and the member for Footscray in the Legislative Assembly, Marsha Thomson, to announce $10 million of Andrews Labor government funding for a brand-new world-class training facility at Victoria…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — This morning I launched a new, united TAFE Victoria brand. It is a new initiative that will position TAFE as delivering modern, contemporary qualifications that are available to all Victorians. This will enable TAFE institutes to retain their individual appeal so they can increase the effectiveness and range…
MS TIERNEY (Minister for Training and Skills) — I rise to advise the house that the Andrews Labor government is putting people first with a multimillion-dollar boost to Victoria’s TAFEs. Over the past fortnight I have visited TAFEs across the state to announce some of the $89.4 million boost in funding to ensure that they are ready…