TOOWOOMBA TAFE UPGRADE UNVEILED

Toowoomba’s reputation as an important regional centre for education and training has been given another boost with the official opening of a new state-of-art facility at the Southern Institute of TAFE today.

Premier Peter Beattie said the new $26.5 million Community Services, Health and Children Services Building was another significant investment in Toowoomba’s future and would expand the range of training services offered on the Downs.

“The new building enables TAFE to offer new local courses in important vocational areas such health, aged care and education,” Mr Beattie said.

“The region’s future nurses, respite centre workers, teacher aides, and child care workers will be able to undergo their training at this new TAFE facility.

“The complex includes a simulated child-care centre, a community centre which will be used for respite training for students, an aged-care training facility and a flexible learning centre.

"Providing modern facilities such as this is part of our commitment under the $1.1 billion Queensland Skills Plan to address skills shortages and support local regional growth. This new facility will enable the Southern Institute of TAFE to continue to provide practical and relevant vocational education and training pathways.”

Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford, said the Institute was doing a tremendous job in supporting the people of south-west Queensland.

“The Southern Institute of TAFE has campuses in Toowoomba, Dalby, Warwick, Stanthorpe, Roma, Chinchilla, Charleville, Kingaroy and Nurunderi (Cherbourg).

“It already offers more than 300 full-time, part-time and short courses throughout the year to more than 20,000 students in a wide range of vocational disciplines.

“This new facility in Toowoomba will enable new courses to be offered including Diploma of Nursing (Pre-enrolment), Diploma of Nursing (Post-Enrolment), Diploma of Nursing (Indigenous Studies) and Professional Development for Enrolled Nurses.”

The new building incorporates the latest in environmental design including rainwater harvesting and automatic air-conditioning and lighting that turns off when rooms are vacated.

Media contact: Premier’s office 32244500

Minister Welford’s office 32371000:

4 December 2006