Students have completed their first term of studies, which seems a good opportunity for me to reflect on the great start to the training year at Federation TAFE.

Our course enrolments have significantly increased, and this success is a direct result of Federation TAFE staff passion for their work and their efforts to continuously improve.

Last month we had TAFE Fest at our Wimmera and Ballarat campuses. The welcome-back-to-study events were well received with more than 500 students and staff attending. 

Students connected with Federation TAFE, our teachers, support services, and each other, and it was great to see so many enjoying the festivities.

With this positive start to the year in mind, I would like to reflect on the growth we have experienced at Federation’s Wimmera campus in recent times.
 Federation’s high-performing team of teachers and professional staff has been working hard to provide more opportunities for people in the Wimmera and southern Mallee to study at TAFE.

We have seen significant growth in enrolments in the Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students, VETDSS, program, and in the Diploma of Nursing and Certificate III in Individual Support courses, which reflects a critical need for more care workers in our region.

Construction trade has continued to be a strong area of growth. Federation TAFE has two courses in electro-technology on offer at our campus, with Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician one of our most popular courses with more than 50 apprentices currently enrolled.

Last year, we received State Government funding to establish a state-of-the-art engineering learning space to enable the delivery of the Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade back on site at the Wimmera campus. 

This new facility accommodates up to 16 students at a time and is nearing completion. 

In addition, local industry is telling us there are also opportunities to grow and develop our plumbing apprentice delivery locally. Bringing degree students back to our campus with the commencement of the Bachelor of Education Studies in semester one has been another major highlight and demonstrates the benefits of Federation as a dual sector university which are so important in regional and rural areas.

Finally, the use of our connected classrooms technology at the Wimmera campus and hybrid learning is helping people from all over our region to train with Federation TAFE no matter where they are located.

I am proud of the work we have done since I joined Federation TAFE in March 2022 and I thank my team at Horsham and all in Federation’s Team TAFE for helping to make Federation’s Wimmera campus such a vibrant and thriving place to teach and learn. 

I would also like to acknowledge our important partnerships with organisations including Wimmera Southern Mallee Development, Wimmera Southern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network, local schools and the local principal’s network, industry and employers, and more.

Editor’s note: Christine Brown will finish as Wimmera campus director at the end of April. The Weekly Advertiser thanks Christine for her contributions.

The entire April 17, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!