FUNDING BOOST TO COMMUNITY TRAINING AND EDUCATION SECTOR FOR SINGLETON

Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon has welcomed Australian Government funding of $1,330,001 to improve teaching and learning across the community education and training sector in Singleton.

“Singleton Community College is a big winner under the program. The college currently operates out of demountable buildings and the $1.3 million will develop new permanent training infrastructure and upgrade existing facilities”, Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“This will help to secure economic activity, assist in addressing the impacts of the economic downturn and increase the capacity of the local training sector over the longer term to meet future skills needs.”

“This initiative recognises the importance that community education and training providers play in supporting productivity in Australia,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

The funding is one of three elements of the Investing in Community Education and Training element of the $500 million Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the Government announced the funding in December 2008 as part of a $4.7 billion nation building infrastructure package to support Australia’s economy.

“The Australian Government is committed to giving access to skills training so that people have the flexibility and transferable skills to succeed in the workforce. Initiatives like this will help to achieve this commitment,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

A full list of the projects being supported under the Investing in Community Education and Training element of the Teaching and Learning Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training is available from www.deewr.gov.au/tlcfvet.