Open for trade

By Ed Merrison
FERNTREE Gully is set to play a major role in Australia’s first government school-based Australian Technical College.
Federal Minister for Vocational and Technical Education Gary Hardgrave said the signing of a funding agreement between the State and Commonwealth Governments on Friday, 16 December assured a 2006 start-up for the Australian Technical College East Melbourne (ATCEM).
The ATCEM, a partnership between Ferntree Gully’s St Joseph’s College, Ringwood Secondary College and Melbourne East Group Training (MEGT), is expected to accept 75 enrolments in 2006.
That number is set to grow to 300 by 2009, with the range of courses available also set to expand in the coming years.
Mr Hardgrave said the ATCEM aimed to get more young Australians into traditional trades and pave the way for that choice in years 11 and 12.
“We want to ensure that they have the opportunity to go on to complete their apprenticeships and that their achievements are valued as much as the attainment of a university qualification.
“This college will provide real trade learning to year 11 and 12 students while at the same time allowing them to gain the necessary academic subjects for their year 12 certificate.
“This will add to the range of opportunities for young people in the region and build on strong vocational programs,” Mr Hardgrave said.
State Minister for Education and Training Lynne Kosky said the joint initiative with the Commonwealth Government would ensure Victorian students had the right skills and training to help expand the State’s economy.
“We welcome this opportunity to expand and share our training expertise in constructive partnerships that benefit young people and the economy.
“This is good for industry, good for our economy, good for our schools and great for young people,” she said.
Ringwood Secondary College will be the major campus, with trade training provided by MEGT, while St Joseph’s will operate a satellite training campus.
The campus at St Joseph will initially offer training in electrotechnology and cabinet making, but will expand to include building and construction in subsequent years.
Meanwhile, the Ringwood campus will cater for the automotive and commercial cookery sectors in 2006, taking in engineering, manufacturing and warehousing later on.
More than $10 million will be spent on purpose-built trade training facilities over the next four years at the two schools, which will deliver their programs within the framework of Vocational Education and Training in the Victorian Certificate of Education and the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning.
Students will enrol full-time at Ringwood Secondary College, to be located at one or other campus according to their choice of trade speciality.
Ferntree Gully MP Anne Eckstein welcomed the news and said technical skills needed to be highly valued to create a balanced society.
“I think technical education is very important, and have always believed we need to place the same emphasis on technical skills as on other academic skills,” she said.
Ms Eckstein also said the funding was good news for the area and in particular St Joseph’s College.
“I think it’s great for St Joseph’s, which does a fantastic job in academic, technical and pastoral care areas.
“It’s a great school for kids from a range of perspectives, and I wish them all the very best with this,” she said.