Numbers up to increase skilled workers

DANDENONG’S Chisholm TAFE will expand its student numbers by 500 to help battle a local skills shortage.
Education and Training Minister Lynne Kosky announced the spaces along with a new ‘Skills Store’ last week for Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.
“In the South-East Metropolitan Region there will be an additional 500 TAFE places at the Chisholm Institute next year,” she said.
“These extra places mean that many more people living in Cranbourne, Dandenong, Frankston and Wonthaggi will have the opportunity to learn a trade, undertake new training or increase their existing skill levels.
“The extra places will expand opportunities for young people by providing more pre-apprenticeship places in the traditional trade areas, including building and construction, community services, health and communications.
“There will also be extra places for mature-aged workers wanting to retrain and take up an apprenticeship or traineeship as well as extra places for people wanting to upgrade their skills.”
Ms Kosky also announced that Link Employment and Training had been chosen to manage a Skills Store in the area.
“The Skills Stores are a Government initiative to make it easier for Victorians to find out about trades and training,” she said.
“People sometimes give up on the idea of training because they don’t know where to start.
“Skills Stores will ensure that each person is assessed for prior learning and experience so that they can get credits, reducing the time required in their future training program.”