Yan Yean MP Danielle Green has reflected on the year that was 2021 with a wrap up.
100,000 Victorians enrol in Free TAFE
100,000 Victorians have signed up to the Andrews Labor Government’s Free TAFE program since it was introduced in 2019 – making rewarding career pathways accessible to more Victorians and saving them more than $220 million in course fees.
The milestone was reached as the Labor Government unveiled another major funding boost of $108 million for skills and training to support the huge growth in enrolments.
The extra support will deliver a 25 per cent boost in funding – taking the Government’s investment to $530 million over two years. It will help TAFEs continue to recover from the challenges of the pandemic and importantly provide the skills we need as Victoria emerges from the pandemic through course delivery and student services.
Women are especially being supported to enrol at TAFE to help them into better paying and secure jobs. Free TAFE is helping to train the 1,000’s of early learning professionals that will be needed to support the roll out of 3-year-old kinder.
TAFE is helping address the skill shortage in building trades through training our young people. Now is the time for school leavers to enquire www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe
Tree Change or Sea Change?
The pandemic has caused many to consider a slower pace of life. There’s never been a better time to move to Victoria’s regions. House prices are lower, journeys to work, study and play are a breeze and First Homeowners receive a $20,000 grant compared to only $10,000 in Melbourne.
Businesses wanting to relocate will find that payroll tax is only 25% of what’s payable in Melbourne. Grants are also available from Regional Development Victoria for business wanting to relocate.
In regional Victoria, the unemployment rate remains at a near-record low of 3.3 per cent, well below the national regional average of 4.2 per cent and half of what it was when the Government came into office.
Jobs Victoria provides a matching service for those seeking work in Melbourne or the regions and for employers seeking workers. Talk to a Jobs Victoria adviser today for more information: jobs.vic.gov.au/
Kids vaccine
The federal government has confirmed the rollout will begin on January 10, after vaccine advisory group (In full) ATAGI provided its recommendations. This follows the Therapuetic Goods Agency’s provisional approval on Sunday.
The State Government will await advice from Commonwealth as to precisely how this vaccine will be rolled out to this age group.
This is welcome news for Victoria, and families across the country who want their children to be protected against COVID-19.
This is an effective vaccine that has been safely administered to millions of young children around the world.
We encourage all parents to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.
Major events
Events will be important in our recovery – driving economic activity, encouraging increased visitor numbers and supporting jobs.
Our calendar of major events is the best in the country – it’s why we are Australia’s sporting and cultural capital.
If there’s an iconic sporting event available, whether its club based or national-team based, Victoria is interested in hosting it.
A study by Ernst & Young conducted pre-pandemic put the economic contribution of major events to Victoria at $2.5 billion annually.
The report found that major events attract almost 6.9 million international and interstate visitors to Victoria each year.
Summer is always a great time for events and I’m certainly looking forward to the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open Tennis.
I’m still here to help!
Despite my announcement that I will not be recontesting Yan Yean at the 2022 election, please remember that my Team and I are here to support you, whenever you need.
Feel free to get in contact with via email at danielle.green@parliament.vic.gov.au or give me a call on 9432 9782.
