FORMER Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was extremely popular with local teenagers when he opened the new Hallam Valley Trade Training Centre at Hallam Senior Secondary College on Monday.
Just weeks after Prime Minister Julia Gillard called a Federal Election for September, her predecessor was all smiles as he mingled with staff and students while he opened the new centre with Holt MP Anthony Byrne.
The Federal Government invested $10.5 million in the Trade Training Centre cluster facility under its Trade Training Centres in Schools program.
While there was speculation Mr Rudd attended the event for his own political agenda, Mr Byrne said the trade training centre program was first announced by Kevin Rudd back in May 2007 and it was designed to address skill shortages and to provide an extra educational investment for young people in their transition into the TAFE and apprenticeship stream.
“Kevin and I strongly believe that there is no difference in value between a trade certification and a university degree,” said Mr Byrne.
The Hallam Valley Trade Training and Skills Hub will provide job-ready training in traditional and emerging trades for senior school students at Hallam Senior Secondary College, Fountain Gate Secondary College, Gleneagles Secondary College, Endeavour Hills Secondary College, Hampton Park Secondary College, Narre Warren South P-12 College and St John’s Regional College.
The centre includes the construction of an automotive workshop, a construction workshop, two theory rooms, two seminar rooms, store rooms, a computer workshop and amenities, the refurbishment of two existing facilities to include a commercial kitchen, a teaching café and dining café and dining area, a hairdressing teaching facility, an electronics workshop, three theory rooms, an electronics facility, store rooms and amenities and the provision of equipment across four sites within the cluster.
Mr Byrne said the trade training facility would provide industry relevant training in various industries, including qualifications in automotive, food processing, construction, electrotechnology, engineering, hairdressing, hospitality and manufacturing.
“In providing this opportunity for young people to obtain a trade qualification it will set them up to obtain employment by one of our local employers in an area that has a strong manufacturing, industrial and tradesperson’s base,” Mr Byrne said.
“Some 20 per cent of people in the City of Casey are employed in the manufacturing industry, 10 per cent work in construction and 18 per cent of employed Casey residents are technicians or trade workers.
“I am looking forward to seeing many of these secondary school students obtain employment with one of our local employers like Bombardier or Jayco.”
Mr Byrne thanked Hallam Senior Secondary College principal Anne Martin, assistant principal John Lyall and Keith Pimblett for their contribution and congratulated everyone involved in delivering the project including the tradespeople and parents.
Following the opening of the trade centre, Mr Rudd and Mr Byrne travelled to Doveton where they presented local volunteers and the John Pandazopoulos Hall Committee of Management with a Holt Community Spirit Award at the John Pandazopoulos Hall in Doveton.
Further information about the Hallam Valley Trade Training Centre and all schools funded under the program is available at www.tradetrainingcentres.deewr.gov.au.
