John Murphy (Reid, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to note that my electorate, Reid, will once again benefit from the Labor government’s $2.5 billion Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. Last week the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Hon. Peter Garrett, announced that Trinity Catholic College in Auburn has been allocated funding in round 3 under the Australian government’s program. I congratulate Trinity College on their successful application. I know that improved access to vocational training is a very worthwhile investment in our children’s education and indeed Australia’s future.

The minister announced round 3 funding on the same day he visited a trade training centre already open in my electorate. We are very fortunate to host one of the largest trade training centres in Australia, the Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College. The college offers an array of courses, including hospitality, children’s services, construction, entertainment industry and furniture making—and the list goes on. The minister was able to see firsthand the wonderful work of the teachers and students at the college and inspect the world-class facilities available to students in and around my local area, all made possible under the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. I note that the minister was particularly interested to see the recording studio that will be utilised by entertainment industry students. I sincerely thank him for taking the time to visit the college. I very much look forward to the expansion of the opportunities available to our local secondary school students with the recently announced funding for Trinity Catholic College.