A $7.5 million trade training centre at Newport will provide vocational training in areas of national skills shortage for five schools across Hobsons Bay and Wyndham.
Federal parliamentary secretary for education Scott Ryan opened the Hobsons Bay Trade Training Centre at Bayside P-12 College’s Paisley campus last Thursday.
Funding for the project was announced by the former federal Labor government before the 2010 state election.
Victoria University will provide training for students from Bayside P-12 College, Laverton Secondary College, Emmanuel College, Point Cook Senior Secondary College and Williamstown High School.
Bayside principal Andrew Harnett said automotive diesel engineering would be taught at Point Cook, electrotechnology at Emmanuel, engineering and hospitality at Laverton, and automotive light vehicle, building and construction at Bayside. Students can travel between campuses to complete their course.
Mr Harnett said the centre would help keep more students at school and help lead to jobs.
“It keeps kids engaged. They’re training and studying in an area that’s of interest to them; they’re training and studying in an area where there’s employment, so it’s wonderful.
Senator Ryan said students could gain qualifications in general electrical, motor mechanics, panel beating, bricklaying, cabinet making, carpentry, painting and decorating, and plumbing. “It’s important that the training provided in these centres links in with the skills needed in today’s workplaces,” he said.
But Williamstown Labor MP Wade Noonan chastised the government for taking credit. “It was Labor in government that funded and built this centre with our wonderful local schools.”
