Building skills lift for Wyndham

By Alesha Capone

By Alesha Capone

Labor has pledged
$5 million in funding to build a construction skills and training apprenticeship centre for Gordon TAFE in Wyndham.

Federal Labor Lalor MP Joanne Ryan made the announcement last week in the lead-up to Saturday’s election.

The total cost of the training centre is expected to be $12 million, with Gordon TAFE to contribute the remaining $7 million.

Ms Ryan said that the construction industry employed more than 32,000 workers in Melbourne’s west and had a projected employment growth of an additional 5000 employees in the five years to 2023.

“The construction skills and future training apprenticeship centre at the Gordon TAFE in Wyndham will ensure that demand for skilled tradespeople in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regions is met with a skilled workforce ready for meaningful work,”
Ms Ryan said.

Gordon acting chief executive Joe Ormeno said the organisation welcomed Labor’s announcement.

“The apprenticeship centre at the Gordon is an important initiative that will support the next generation to meet the industry demand, now and into the future,” he
said.

The location and design of the centre will be developed after consultation with the Wyndham community.