Trade training centre to become a reality
Chisholm Institute’s Frankston Campus is to become home to an $18.5 million Frankston START (School Tafe Alliance for Regional Training) Trade Training Centre, set to be the largest in Australia.
To be constructed on Chisholm and Frankston Council land at the Samuel Sherlock Reserve, all consortium members gathered recently to view concept drawings that have been developed.
Public, independent and Catholic schools pooled federal government grants to contribute to the centre with funding provided under the Australian Government's Trade Training Centres in Schools Program.
Ken McKay, Chairman, Board of Management, Frankston START Trade Training Centre, and Assistant Principal of Patterson River Secondary College, said the consortium of 13 schools in the Frankston region initiated the successful application to the federal government for funding with Council support and believes an innovative regional trade training model will be delivered.
"Frankston City Council has supported the schools consortium from the outset, and has committed to provide services to the Trade Training Centre when it opens. It is also anticipated that students will become involved in Frankston City Council community projects," Mr McKay.
This new trade training centre will provide students from Years 9 to 12 with access to vocational education and training, giving schools a broader range of options to improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance pathways into vocational careers.
Mr Dreyfus said, "I congratulate Chisholm TAFE, Frankston Council and all participating schools for taking the initiative to help create this much needed Trade Training Centre in this region."
Chisholm Deputy CEO, Peter Harrison said “This is an exciting project for Chisholm to be involved with. Our already strong links with secondary schools within the region will be further enhanced with the opportunities this centre will provide. Chisholm currently has many pathways for students from VCAL right through to Higher Education programs”.
Mayor Bolam said, "This Trade Training Centre is going to make an enormous difference for generations of students in this municipality".
A lot of planning has already gone on to ensure that when the doors are opened to students they will be participating in high quality trade training, using state of the art, industry standard equipment.
The 13 schools are: Carrum Downs Secondary College, Elisabeth Murdoch College, Flinders Christian Community College, Frankston High School Senior Campus, John Paul College, McClelland Secondary College, Monterey Secondary College, Mount Erin Secondary College, Mount Eliza Secondary College, Patterson River Secondary College, Naranga Special School, Toorak College and Woodleigh School.