Historic funding boost for ECG McMillan
August 28, 2009
ECG (Education Centre Gippsland) has received its biggest capital funding boost ever with a $1.1 million Australian Government grant to upgrade and build new training infrastructure at its Warragul McMillan campus.
The grant will fund building extensions to accommodate five new teaching rooms, construction of disability access ramps, electric doors and lift, as well as new cutting edge technology to increase teaching and learning opportunities ECG Chief Executive Officer Bernadette O’Connor described the funding as a milestone win for ECG and local communities.
“This funding underlines the Australian Government’s recognition of the valuable role ECG as a community education organisation plays in supporting local people to improve their skills, training and employability. The funding is focused on initiatives for modernising and improving the quality of teaching and learning across the vocational education and training sector.
“The funding will benefit local people by increasing access to learning both on and off campus. It will also enable ECG to invest in new technologies to develop a virtual campus where students will be able to study courses on-line if they choose. This will open a whole new range of training opportunities for local people,” she said.
Ms O’Connor said ECG had managed the McMillan campus since 2006 and had been working to revitalise the campus, developing strong partnerships with industry and the community and extending course programs “This funding will enable ECG to make a giant leap forward in progressing our vision to further build the campus into a vibrant learning and research centre.
“In addition to growing programs and student numbers in horticulture, agriculture and arboriculture, ECG has expanded the campus to include a salon offering accredited hair, beauty and makeup programs, as well as courses in children’s services, aged care, education special needs, disability, business, and more.
“The campus also provides VET and VCAL programs and traineeships to support skills growth of local industry.
“The next step for ECG is to establish a project committee with a time frame for the new infrastructure to be completed by June 2010,” she said.
* The Australian Government funding is part of the Investing in Community Education and Training element of the $500 million Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training to support Australia’s economy. Visit: http://www.deewr.gov.au/tlcfvet.
For more information on courses at ECG McMillan phone 5622 6000
For further information contact:
Bernadette O’Connor
ECG CEO
Education Centre Gippsland
PO Box 249 Warragul 3820
03 5622 6000