Inala TAFE doubles in size to help job seekers and new arrivals

TAFE Queensland’s Inala campus has doubled its teaching area with a $3.4 million expansion officially opened today by Premier and local member Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The expansion includes ten new semi-demountable classrooms, an extra 65 carparks and new toilet facilities for TAFE Queensland’s multicultural students.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the expansion was necessary to meet the increased demand for English classes for migrants and refugees and training for job seekers.

“This expansion will benefit not only TAFE Queensland and its students but also the wider Inala community and local businesses and residents,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Education and training is a priority for the Palaszczuk Government and this is real-life learning, getting our migrant and refugee residents ready for meaningful employment.”

Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D’Ath said the campus had experienced significant growth in student numbers and training activity since 2012.

“This is primarily due to high and growing demand in the number of migrant settlements and access to Commonwealth-funded training programs such as the Adult Migrant English Program and Skills for Education and Employment,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“The expanded facilities demonstrate the Department of Education and Training and TAFE Queensland’s commitment to meeting the needs of the Inala and wider south west Brisbane communities,” she said.

TAFE Queensland CEO Jodi Schmidt said the expansion was the result of demand for not just specialist programs, but also broader vocational education and training in the community.

“Demographic studies commissioned by TAFE Queensland indicated the Inala campus and surrounding areas were, and remain, a high growth corridor resulting in the demand for training extending beyond specialist migrant programs to broader vocational education and training,” Ms Schmidt said.

For more information about TAFE Queensland and courses available in Inala, call 1300 914 754 or visit www.tafesouthwest.edu.au

About the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)

The AMEP provides up to 510 hours of free English language tuition to eligible migrants from the skilled, family and humanitarian visa streams to help them learn English to assist with their settlement in Australia. The AMEP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. In Queensland, the AMEP is delivered through TAFE Queensland. For more information, please visit www.tafeqld.edu.au/tells  

About the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE)

SEE offers up to 800 hours of FREE training to help participants secure a job or participate in further training. SEE provides language, literacy and numeracy training in a contextualised learning environment for eligible job seekers aged 15–64. For more information, visit www.education.gov.au/skills-education-and-employment

Media Contact:

Premier:                     Geoff Breusch          0417 272 875

Minister D’Ath:          Pam Frost                  0437 696 809