Post-secondary education and training capacity in the Esperance region will be significantly improved, following the announcement of a $17.85 million TAFE campus redevelopment.
Made possible by a $10 million investment through the Royalties for Regions Goldfields-Esperance Revitalisation Fund, the new campus will provide training in local industry areas including mining, construction, engineering, mechanical, agriculture, business, health and aged care.
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Dave Grills MLC said the new, state-of-the-art TAFE campus would offer enhanced learning options, attract and retain residents and drive the development of a true knowledge economy in the region.
“The new TAFE campus, supported by RoyaltiesforRegions, will help raise education attainment levels across the region, keep school leavers and residents in the community and provide a wider variety of industry-relevant courses,” Mr Grills said.
“I would like to acknowledge those dedicated Esperance residents who have tirelessly campaigned for a new campus over the years.
“The dilapidated, inadequate condition of the current facility was first raised with me when I was elected in 2013 and I have since been lobbying government for a redevelopment.”
Mr Grills said a recent study cited in the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Investment Blueprint found that potentially 150-200 full-time equivalent students could choose to study at local centres across the Goldfields-Esperance region.
The same recent survey indicated that 61 percent of mature-age respondents would like to study at a tertiary level in the region.
“Meeting this demand for post-secondary education and training is key to developing a highly skilled regional workforce and ensuring a more prosperous future in the information age,” Mr Grills said.
Nationals WA Candidate for Roe Peter Rundle said the $10 million investment from Royalties for Regions in skills development and training would support local business and encourage economic growth.
“This long-awaited investment in a new TAFE campus is key to providing growth prospects that bring long-term social and economic benefits to the Esperance region,” Mr Rundle said.
“This new campus was only made possible by Royalties for Regions and aligns with the objectives set out in the Goldfields-Esperance Regional Investment Blueprint.
“Allowing Esperance residents to pursue a greater variety of relevant, job-focused courses in state-of-the-art facilities will significantly boost regional liveability.”
The $17.85m total project cost is comprised of $10m from the Royalties for Regions Goldfields-Esperance Revitalisation Fund and $7.5m from the WA Department of Training and Workforce Development.
The $198m Goldfields-Esperance Revitalisation Fund invests in priority projects designed o enable economic and social development across the region.
For media enquiries contact Dave Grills MLC on (08) 90711 500 or email dave.grills@mp.wa.gov.au
