THE Port of Sale Campus of TAFE Gippsland was officially launched on Wednesday August 24 by State Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney, with about 50 people showing up to see the new facilities.
TAFE Gippsland executive director strategic engagement, Mikaela Power, opened the event, and said it was an exciting time for the community.
“Today is a day many of you have been waiting for – for a very long time,” Ms Power said.
“It’s a very big day for TAFE Gippsland in what has been an exciting period in our rich history in Gippsland, as we meet here in Wellington Shire to celebrate our major new campus development project. It is just one of many such major campus redevelopment projects over the past 18 months.”
In 2020, the state government announced builders for the $25 million Port of Sale Campus.
The campus aims to deliver education and training facilities for industry and academic disciplines that meet local industry and community needs and best practice training for students across the region – land located within walking distance of Sale’s central business district.
New purpose-built facilities are ready for a variety of courses including hair and beauty, health and social services, early childhood, carpentry, engineering (fabrication and mechanical) and automotive trades.
The new campus replaces TAFE Gippsland’s ageing Fulham campus, which was located 10 kilometres west of Sale.
It will also allow the TAFE to expand its courses, with vocational training in health being reintroduced to boost Gippsland’s workforce in the critical in-demand health sector.
Ms Power introduced Auntie Sandra Patten from Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, who performed a Welcome to Country and a Smoking Ceremony to bless and cleanse the building, and guests were encouraged to walk through the smoke.
Ms Tierney took the stage next to speak about the new building, but also described visiting the old campus in Fulham. “I kept getting information on my desk that was giving me great concern … and I got to say, I was particularly concerned when I came across (the Fulham campus),” Ms Tierney said.
Ms Tierney said the community had made it loud and clear that it wanted this project.
“This continues our investment to make sure that students have access to world-class training facilities, an array of world-class courses for in-demand job areas, and can access those no matter where they live,” she said.
TAFE Gippsland is also supporting students enrolled online at university and other higher education providers with 24/7 study access, through the opening of the Sale Higher Education Study Hub, in partnership with Gippsland East Local Learning & Employment Network.
Based at the TAFE’s Flexible Learning Centre campus in Desailly Street, the hub provides students with a quiet and modern study space complete with access to computers, internet and the latest interactive smart board learning technology including video conferencing.
TAFE Gippsland board chair Paul Buckley addressed the crowd after Ms Tierney.
“Our Port of Sale campus is delivering fit-for purpose training to meet the needs of local business in Wellington Shire, and we will continue to work with all our Gippsland stakeholders on delivering the training that industry and employer groups have asked for,” Mr Buckley said.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye said council was excited to welcome TAFE Gippsland to their new facilities.
“This project has been a long time in planning, and throughout several council and mayoral terms, we have played an active role in strongly advocating for this huge boost to further education opportunities for locals,” Cr Bye said.
“I would like to thank and acknowledge the work of Cr Carolyn Crossley and Cr Scott Rossetti, former councillors Darren McCubbin and the late Malcolm Hole, and my fellow councillors, who have played such a significant role in advocating for TAFE Gippsland to be based here at the Port of Sale.”
Cr Crossley said the facilities were better, safer and more accessible, as they were in town.
“The campus out at Fulham was old, tired, in the wrong place and it really didn’t meet the current needs of the students that are here now. So the (new building) is a fantastic outcome and it’s building on the strength of the community.”
