TAFE Gippsland offers opportunities for regional students to boost ECEC learning

After more than 10 years of planning, the new TAFE Gippsland campus is up and running at the Port of Sale, allowing more regional students to participate in vocational education and training in person or remotely.

 

In operation since May this year, the $25 million campus is offering students the chance to upskill in the automotive, building, engineering, carpentry, allied health, aged care, childcare and hairdressing sectors and industries. 

 

Construction of the campus is intended to address local education and training needs in critical sectors experiencing skills and worker shortages, with the specifically designed early childhood learning classroom fitted with many children’s activities and with an adjoining outdoor playground.

 

The modern campus has an emphasis on interactive simulation of real world workplace environments to allow learners to incorporate theory and practice in meaningful ways. As such, the early childhood space has been created in the same way that a long day care service would be, with chairs and tables for children, along with books and activities. 

 

“We want to make sure that when our students walk into the workforce [they] are well prepared,” a TAFE representative said.

 

A variety of learning modalities are catered for, and the campus features smart boards and video conferencing, to allow for online offerings, remote but interactive offerings, or traditional classroom settings.

 

This story was first covered by the ABC. To access the ABC coverage, please see here.