All on board to save Swinburne

THE State Government will fund a detailed analysis of education needs in the Yarra Valley while ensuring Swinburne’s Lilydale campus will continue to provide education.
But the opposition claims local Liberal MPs voted against an amendment to education laws that would have provided sufficient VET funding to keep the campuses open.
Education Minister Peter Hall and Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe met with the Yarra Valley Education Precinct Committee on Wednesday (14 November) to ensure them providing education through the Lilydale campus was a top priority.
Mr Hall told the committee the government had provided funding for a detailed market analysis of the training needs of the region.
“Since Swinburne University made the announcement in July 2012, there have been ongoing discussions with Swinburne University, the shire council and training providers to ensure all options are thoroughly explored so that training may continue to be provided in Lilydale into 2013 and beyond,” he said.
A government spokesman for Mr Hall said the analysis being done recognised the importance of ensuring that any future vocational delivery was viable, sustainable and met the needs of the local community and businesses.
“In order to make this happen the Coalition government is working closely with the council, and Swinburne, and with a number of other training providers to ensure the campus becomes a vibrant community asset, where people can learn new skills and of which the region can be proud,” he said.
Mrs Fyffe welcomed the Minister’s support, the commitment of the Yarra Valley Education Precinct Committee, the Yarra Ranges Shire Council and other interested parties.
“We are all working hard towards turning this situation into a positive outcome for the Yarra Valley with long term educational opportunities,” she said.
But Monbulk Labor MP James Merlino says Liberal MPs failed to stand up for staff and students at their local Swinburne TAFE campus by voting against a measure that would have ensured the Lilydale and Prahran campuses would remain open.
Mr Merlino said Labor moved an amendment to the Education Legislation Amendment (Governance) bill 2012 that would require the department secretary “provide sufficient VET funding for the continuation of existing campuses”.
He said when a vote was called on to include Labor’s amendment, Liberal members for Evelyn, Kilsyth, Gembrook, Seymour, Bayswater, Ferntree Gully, Warrandyte and Mitcham all voted against the measure.
He said without Labor’s amendment, it was hard to see how the campus could remain open.
“Once the campus is sold off, it is gone for good, which will strand both current students and staff, while at the same time reducing the options for future students in the area – it will close the door on a generation,” he said.