THE Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE was yesterday given a $1 million cash injection to offer more training hours and upgrade equipment. The funds will allow 25,000 more training hours at the TAFE during 2008 and be used to upgrade equipment and infrastructure at the Bendigo education facility. Of the $1 million, $175,000 will be used to upgrade telecommunication cabling for the phone and computer system at the Bendigo City Campus; $400,000 for higher laptop speeds and an internet wireless pilot and $500,000 to upgrade cooling towers for a more energy efficient air-conditioning system. Premier John Brumby announced details of the upgrade during an inspection of the TAFE yesterday. “The new $1m funding I have announced today will update internet access and communication equipment and deliver more energy efficient heating and cooling for BRIT’s 11 campuses,” he said. “The Victorian Government has also provided BRIT with a further $400,000 to deliver an additional 25,000 training hours in 2008.” Mr Brumby said the funding was part of a $20 million facilities and equipment boost for all Victoria’s 18 TAFEs to ensure students were well prepared for an innovation-driven future. This includes $8.6 million for TAFEs based in regional and rural Victoria. “Victorians must have the skills needed for jobs of the future,” he said. “Training and skills are central to building thriving and competitive regional industries – and Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE is one of Victoria’s leading regional training institutions. “From 2002 to 2006 apprenticeships completed at BRIT increased by 25 per cent. “Growth was particularly strong in plumbing services and general construction, which are high priority skill areas in the region – and we expect demand for these services to continue to grow. “More than 200 workers from recently restructured local industries are also currently retraining at BRIT in a variety of new skill areas through the Victorian Government’s Skill Up program.”
