Minister for Training and Skills, the Hon Gayle Tierney visited the up and coming Sunshine Skills Hub today at Victoria University’s Sunshine Campus. The Minister was given a tour of the new Skills Building and Innovation Hub and learned about Victoria University’s future development plans for the new state-of-the-art facility, scheduled to open in early 2020.
The Minister met with Victoria University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Peter Dawkins and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Vocational Education and Pathways) Grant Dreher, accompanied with Natalie Suleyman, MP State Labor Member for St Albans, Mr Tim Watts MP the Member for Gellibrand and Phil D’Adamo the Executive Director for TAFE and Tertiary Institutions at the Department of Education and Training.
The tour showcased the $35 million facility, with a focus on the specialised teaching equipment students will have access to, such as the Future Skill Accelerator, for advanced manufacturing, rapid prototype development and problem solving through applied research teaching rooms, the Centre for Health and Wellbeing which includes high-tech nursing simulation lab and a paramedics lab which will include an ‘Ambulance Pod’ to help students learn through simulation of real-life scenarios.
The Minister continued the tour into the Trades Hub where she engaged with our carpentry students on their past experience, current studies, and their future career plans. The bricklaying students also demonstrated their hands-on training. The tour ended with an understanding of how VU Polytechnic prepares individuals with industry-based learning for the future of work.