- Published:
- Tuesday 10 July 2018
More students will get the skills and experience they need to get a job with the Andrews Labor Government rolling out more funding for courses that give real-life practical experience.
The Labor Government is providing $43.1 million from the Workforce Training Innovation Fund for industry to develop courses with TAFE and training providers which meet changing workplace needs – giving industry a real say in the training being delivered.
Acting Premier James Merlino and Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today announced $1.4 million from the fund for Curve Tomorrow to launch the Jasper Virtual Reality Simulation Program, which will give paediatric health professionals training in true-to-life crisis situations.
Developed by health innovation company Curve Tomorrow in collaboration with Holmesglen TAFE and Swinburne University, the program will give students the opportunity to experience a series of realistic scenarios with actors playing the parts of patients or parents.
Scenarios include responding as a team to critically injured patients, dealing with a stressed and aggressive parent, or resuscitating an infant. Using a virtual reality headset, students will be fully immersed in a 360 degree, pre-recorded virtual environment, helping them to develop the skills they need to get a job.
This is all part of the Labor Government’s work to give every Victorian the opportunity to get the training and skills they need to get a job.
To make it easier to access training, the Government is investing $172 million to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses that lead to jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers tuition free. A further 10 free TAFE courses will be confirmed in time for students to enrol for the 2019 training year.
The Victorian Budget 2018/19 is investing an additional $644 million to strengthen TAFE, address skills shortages and ensure all Victorians can access the training they need to get a good job.
The former Liberal Government decimated our TAFE system – cutting funding, sacking teachers and closing campuses. We’ve turned that around and we’re continuing to invest in TAFE to make it even bigger and better than before.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier James Merlino
“We want every Victorian to have the opportunity to get training that leads to a job – that’s why we’re making it easier to access and funding courses that will give students the real-life industry skills they need to succeed.”
“We’re making the record investment needed to put TAFE back at the heart of training in Victoria and make sure Victorians are first in line for the jobs we’re creating.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“We’re proud to be investing in a project that will play a key role in ensuring we have the skilled healthcare professionals Victoria needs for its growing healthcare sector.”
“The previous Liberal Government spent four years cutting TAFE and closing campuses – we’re rebuilding TAFE to provide industry relevant training that gets Victorians into jobs.”