Locals in Melbourne’s east will have access to more opportunities to get the skills they need to get a job thanks to $12 million for Box Hill Institute from the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney visited the institute’s Elgar Road campus to announce funding from the Stronger TAFE Fund, part of Skills First, which will allow TAFEs to focus on what they do best – train students.

The funding will make sure Box Hill Institute has the resources needed to address industry skill gaps, deliver new innovative training and help grow enrolments including the reopened Lilydale campus.

Through Skills First, the Labor Government is overhauling Victoria’s training and TAFE system, guaranteeing funding to secure the future of TAFE and making sure Victorians have the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Skills First builds on the Government’s investment in TAFE since 2014 – which has included new buildings, reopening closed campuses, rolling out the latest cutting edge equipment and restoring quality to the system.

During her visit, Ms Tierney met with students studying the Certificate IV in Information Technology (Cyber Security), which was first offered last year after the institute secured funding through the TAFE Back to Work Fund.

The National Australia Bank has taken on four trainees, providing on the job training and support.

Ms Tierney was also briefed on the planned $3 million modernisation of the institute’s Nelson campus and part of the Elgar Road campus to allow for the relocation of the music and fashion programs.

The Government’s TAFE Rescue Fund is supporting the modernisation.

In the last two years, Box Hill Institute has received $16.7 million from the TAFE Rescue Fund, $4.7 million from the TAFE Back to Work Fund and $2.4 million for Skills and Jobs Centres from the Labor Government.

Last month, a new united TAFE Victoria brand was launched to help TAFEs promote the hundreds of high-quality, industry-linked courses on offer.

Victoria’s 12 TAFEs and four dual-sector universities will remain individual institutions, but the new brand gives them a strong collective voice as the centre of the government-funded training system.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“Box Hill Institute is doing a great job training our future workforce and this money will make sure they can continue that.”

“Transforming the training and TAFE sector after four years of cuts is no easy feat. That’s why we’re investing record amounts in TAFEs, including Box Hill Institute, to make sure they’re up to the task.”

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan Shaun Leane

“I’m proud to be a part of a government that’s making our TAFEs stronger than ever. Victorians deserve access to the best training possible and this extra funding will make sure they have that.”