A Shorten Labor Government will fund state-of-the-art technology and equipment at the new Centre for Innovative Design at Chisholm TAFE, as part of its $100 million Building TAFE for the Future Fund.

The fit-out of IT hardware and tools is expected to cost $1.14 million, and will help train students studying Engineering, Building Design, Construction Management, Carpentry, Joinery, Furniture Making, Waterproofing and Pre-fabrication (Off-site construction).

The fit-out will give students experience on the latest technology and allow them to engage collaboratively with digital models, 3-D manufacturing and computer aided machinery (CAM). The training will involve prototyping, to test design concepts and evaluate them in real time. This enables students to gain cutting edge design, manufacture and assembly skills while utilising the latest low energy consumption and sustainability practices.

It will benefit students studying pre-trade, trade and post-trade qualifications, and enable them to learn a ‘whole of cycle’ approach that is the best of industry current practice.

The investment forms part of the new Frankston Centre for Innovative Design at Chisholm Institute a state of the art facility that will help train students in the South-east of Melbourne - a hub of advanced manufacturing in Victoria with over 200 leading manufacturers based in this region producing 44 per cent of Victoria’s manufactured product.

This important investment is part of a comprehensive plan to support TAFEs, vocational education and apprenticeships across the country.

In addition to the Building TAFE for the Future Fund, Federal Labor will waive upfront TAFE fees for 100,000 students and guarantee two-thirds of government vocational education funding goes to TAFE.

Labor is committed to giving Australians a fair go by investing in the skills of the future.

In contrast, the Liberals have cut more than $3 billion from skills, TAFE and apprenticeships funding since they came to office, with a further $270 million cut in the 2018 Budget.

As a result, apprentice numbers have declined in Dunkley by 790 since 2013, a drop of 30 percent. Across the country, there are 140,000 fewer apprentices and trainees, a decline of 35 percent.

Only Labor will give Australians a fair go by investing in TAFE, the iconic public provider.