SuniTAFE’s Swan Hill campus was visited by Senator Jana Stewart last week to discuss how the campus is contributing to the Swan Hill community.  

Senator Stewart grew up in Swan Hill and feels strongly about post-secondary college opportunities being available for all young Australians, especially in North-West Victoria.  

“Initiatives like Fee-Free TAFE are supporting more than 530 students to have confidence in the career opportunities available to them,” Senator Stewart said. 

“1 in 3 Fee-Free TAFE enrolments in Victoria are from a regional or remote area. SuniTAFE is creating opportunities for young people in the Mallee to get into some of the nation’s most rewarding and secure jobs.” 

During her time on campus, she had the chance to discuss the important role that SuniTAFE plays in the local community, both for the lives of individuals and for the region’s economic prosperity.  

“We are very proud of the contribution that SuniTAFE is making to the communities of North-West Victoria and appreciate the opportunity to welcome the Senator to our Swan Hill campus,” SuniTAFE Chief Executive Officer Brett Millington said.  

“Our Vision is to inspire growth and belief through learning and it was fantastic to outline some of the ways in which we are doing this locally.”  

Increasing Employability 

Whilst visiting the Swan Hill campus, Senator Stewart was able to see for herself SuniTAFE’s commitment to changing lives through education. More than just providing qualifications on paper, SuniTAFE makes people more employable.  

Senator Stewart got a glimpse into the Skills and Jobs Centre that provides vital training in resume writing and job interview experience as well as giving targeted career guidance.  

SuniTAFE is proud to acknowledge that most students secure jobs before they have even finished their course and, in the case of apprentices and trainees, they get paid to study and work.  

Investing in Equipment for the Future 

While touring the campus, the Senator was able to see the investments the Institute has made into state-of-the-art equipment across all departments, to ensure students are getting the best learning experience possible. 

SuniTAFE’s impressive nursing labs were of particular interest, fitted with real-world equipment and realistic patient-care manikins.  

These spaces are designed to mimic real-world practice so that nursing graduates can transfer straight into the community to fill vital roles in healthcare upon completion of their studies.    

The heavy automotive department was also given the opportunity to show how they are future-proofing their training for apprentices who enter the transport and logistics industry.  

These workshops contain electric and hybrid machinery – such as trucks and excavators – which students are able to train on.  

The significant investment into such equipment means that SuniTAFE is a direct contributor to making these industries more environmentally-friendly, and is a key player in bringing national and global trends to the region.  

Senator Stewart also had the chance to visit the SuniTAFE Library to see how 3D printing technology is being used to complement the learning experience of students.  

For hands-on course areas, 3D printing has been utilised to print parts on a smaller scale to help students grasp the intricacies of how something functions. These include models of hearts and lungs or brake callipers and transmission gears.  

The award-winning 3D printers owned by SuniTAFE are just another way that the Institute uses the newest technologies to enhance student learning.  

“SuniTAFE’s Swan Hill campus is such a vibrant and welcoming space. When it comes to equipping young Australians with the skills they need to meet the demands of the growing clean energy industry, I want to see more TAFEs follow the lead of SuniTAFE,” Senator Stewart said. 

SMART Farm Campus Makes Farming Greener 

SuniTAFE’s SMART Farm campus near Mildura was also a key discussion point for Senator Stewart who wanted to know what makes the facility ‘smart.’  

More than ever, the SMART Farm’s focus on protected cropping, robotic technology, and production efficiency is industry relevant.  

Not only does the SMART Farm make lighter work of what was once a traditionally manual occupation, it supports a viable sustainable path for the horticultural industry.  

It is this sustainability that SuniTAFE is most proud of and helps the Institute to contribute to a cleaner economy in the future.  

SuniTAFE would like to thank Senator Jana Stewart for visiting the Swan Hill campus and taking the time to learn about the Institute’s commitment to changing lives.  

Interested in studying a course that will set you up for your future? Click here to see all courses on offer at SuniTAFE. 

Already have a qualification and want to give back? Click here to see the teaching positions on offer.  

Image source - www.facebook.com/JanaStewartVIC