The four training sites of a new opened in Melton last week.
The cluster centre will teach vocational skills and offer qualifications in electrotechnology, building and construction, engineering and hairdressing at four locations across Melton.
The four centres were declared open at Kurunjang Secondary School on Wednesday by Senator Scott Ryan, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training.
The facilities were built with a $10.5 million contribution from the federal government.
They are an electrotechnology facility at Kurunjang Secondary School, an engineering faculty at Catholic Regional College Melton, a hairdressing salon at Melton Secondary College and a building and construction workshop at Staughton College.
“The new facilities at Kurunjang Secondary College and the cluster schools will give students the best chance to learn workplace skills,” Senator Ryan said.
“Skills training at secondary school provides a basis for students to pursue further training after school or to enter the workplace.”
Kurunjang Secondary principal Sandra Eglezos said it had been a long journey since the school’s original application back in 2008, but the centre was now in place and running successfully. “Our students and teachers are using the spaces extremely well,” Ms Eglezos said. “They have the latest machinery and a wonderful learning area equipped with the needs of the 21st century student.
“Already we have full classes in hairdressing and building and construction,” she said.
Students at all eight Western Edge Cluster schools, which include Melton Specialist School, Bacchus Marsh College, Lakeview Senior College and Melton Christian College, will have opportunities to learn at the new facilities.
Ms Eglezos said the Western Edge Cluster would focus on giving all students a broad range of study choices, as well as developing partnerships with local businesses and opportunities for student employment.
She acknowledged, for their vision and trust, the eight former principals of the participating schools, who agreed to form a consortium to seek the funding.
