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The Victorian Government announced a major reform of the TAFE system yesterday, Tuesday 26th August.
 These reforms will have a direct bearing on many of the current planning inititiaves underway across the Macedon, Mitchell and Murrindindi Shires and we encourage all members and stakeholders to review these reforms closely.
Premier John Brumby said the new investment would create 172,000 new training places and deliver a massive boost to TAFE infrastructure right across the state.
“We will provide a Government supported training place for every eligible Victorian who wants one,” Mr Brumby said.
“We will also make the training and education sector fairer by giving students at diploma and advanced diploma level access to a university-style loan for fees, giving them the option to defer upfront payment for training.
“In a national first, the Commonwealth has agreed to extend its FEE HELP structure to cover Victoria’s training sector.”
The overhaul will guarantee a place for every worker that wants to upgrade their skills.
The program will give diploma and advanced diploma students access to university-style loans to make study more accessible
The four year, $316-million package will create 172,000 new training places.
For Students:
From 1 July 2009, courses will be divided into the following categories:
- Foundation skills (Literacy, numeracy and language skills). Maximum fee $500.
- Skills Creation (Certificates I & II) Maximum fee $875.
- Skills Building (Certificates III & IV) Maximum fee $1000.
- Skills Deepening (Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas) Maximum fee $1500.
- Apprenticeships and Traineeships – Fees remain at the 2008 rate, maximum fee $903.
Key features of the whole initative include:
- The establishment of a Victorian Training Guarantee. This Australian-first initiative, gives people the entitlement to access Government-subsided training at any time so long as they keep moving up the qualification scale for skills;
- The creation of up to 172,000 additional training places;
- We will fund the hiring of an extra 900 teachers and 500 non-teaching staff;
- We will support greater student choice – by enabling eligible students to train at either public or community providers, including a much broader range of private providers;
- We will create the opportunity, for the first time, for students to access finance to study in TAFEs and private RTOs;
- We will boost the workforce and IT capacity of the TAFE and Adult Community Education sectors;
- We will give businesses support to make the training system easier to access for their workforces; and we will redesign the system to make VET easier to navigate for students and business.
Other parts of the upgrade to Victoria’s training sector will include:
- $52 million to deliver Skills for Growth - a new workforce development program to help Victorian businesses develop the skills of their workforce;
- $20 million investment into boosting broadband capacity in TAFE;
- $10.8 million to boost the capacity of Adult and Community Education providers right across the state;
- $8 million to make it easier for students, the community and employers to access information on training options, employment trends and skills shortages;
The Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation, The Hon. Jacinta Allan
Related Links
 Skills Victoria
Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria [Web]
Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria  [1.3MB]
20 Million Broadband Boost for TAFE
Posted by Bill Coppinger on 27 August 2008; 9:08:19 AM
from the Vocational Education and Training dept.
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Well-skilled future (Report) released
June 6th 
This Expo has over 40 exhibitors from areas as diverse as 
Link to Google Map
Please be advised that the South West Goulburn Local Community Partnership will be holding its Annual General Meeting as outlined below:
Congratulations to the students at Broadford Secondary College for the recognition of their work in the development of a wine-makers course, featured in the Weekly Times today. Viticulture is a significant and growing local industry across the Macedon, Mitchell and Murrindindi shires and it is wonderful to see local links being forged with industry, producing VERY authentic outcomes for students. 
initiatives of the sector to meet the changing economic and technological environment: a review of training packages, and a review of the national standards for training providers.