Laverton Community Education Centre has been offering adult education services — including accredited ESL programs and personal development courses — to the communities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham since the 1980s.
In 2004, it became a registered training organisation, enabling expansion into accredited vocational programs.
“The centre is committed to meeting the rising demand for training from our increasingly diverse population,” says Rod Hopkins, vocational education co-ordinator at the centre.
“At the same time, we’re keen to ensure we remain faithful to our philosophy of ‘community education’ – quality teaching at affordable prices in a caring and thoughtful environment.
“We now offer certificate qualifications in children’s services, aged care and hospitality, as well as a diploma in early childhood education and care.
“In two years, there has been a rise in demand for our accredited ESL and Commonwealth-funded Language Literacy and Numeracy Programs as more people from overseas settle in this part of Melbourne.”
Hospitality industry training at the centre is about to get a boost with the opening of the Laverton Community Hub.
This will provide access to a commercial-grade kitchen and the first group of budding chefs are expected to start a certificate II in kitchen operations next month.
The Hub will also provide much-needed classroom space for expansion of other centre programs.
