Dandenong campus home to new trade centre and student hub

Chisholm has welcomed the Victorian Government’s significant funding allocation of $6.8 million to support two long-awaited infrastructure projects at the Dandenong campus.

The funding, announced by the Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education, the Hon. Gayle Tierney, as part of the TAFE Asset Maintenance Fund, which will deliver more than 30 projects across the State.

"These projects will deliver better facilities for students and staff, and support jobs and local businesses through the pandemic.” Minister Tierney said.

The refurbishment of several trades’ buildings at the Dandenong campus, will enable the consolidation of trade delivery to create the Dandenong Trade Centre. Chisholm Director and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Varty says the redesign and refurbishment will also align the training at Dandenong campus with the newly developed Frankston Trades Building, which was officially opened late last year.

“We are one of the largest providers of Apprenticeship Training in Victoria, and the establishment of the Dandenong Trade Centre will enable us to continue our best practice approach to deliver relevant industry-simulated training that aligns to industry needs and expectations”, Mr Varty said.

With year-on-year growth in student numbers at the Dandenong campus, the funding will also support a new Student Hub. The Hub will provide a new environment for student support services and student lounge. Over the past three years, Chisholm’s student support services have responded to an exponential increase in demand, peaking at 96 per cent.

The student hub will complement the recently completed facilities at the Frankston campus and bring together:

• Spaces to provide confidential support including counselling, disability support and apprentice support.
• Support spaces to support Chisholm’s lead role in Family Violence Prevention and Response.
• On-campus career hub providing drop-in support.
• On-campus contemporary student lounge.
• Indigenous engagement unit to provide a space for connection with services, culture and community.

Works on the Dandenong Trades Buildings are due for completion in the first half of 2021.

“The importance of retention and support strategies is significant. Students have indicated that key drivers of attrition include work/study balance, stress and financial barriers, so students must have access to timely and relevant support to help them succeed,” Mr Varty said.

“These have been challenging times, and we’re grateful to the State Government and their investment in education infrastructure,” Mr Varty said.

The $55 million investment announced by the State Government this week is part of the $1.18 billion announced for critical education infrastructure projects for schools and early childhood to help drive the State’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

An extra 18,000 Victorians will be able to train at TAFEs and Learn Locals under a $163 million package of new measures, which includes an expansion of the Government’s signature Free TAFE program to prepare the State’s economic recovery from the Coronavirus crisis.