Tim PALLAS (Werribee – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Trade and Investment) (09:38):

I would like to celebrate the benefits provided to some of my constituents from the Andrews Labor government’s free TAFE initiative. James, aged 27, recently completed a diploma of justice at the Kangan Institute. He said that the availability of free TAFE gave him the opportunity of a lifetime and that undertaking the course was something he would never have considered otherwise. James is now proudly working as a trainee court registrar and loves being part of a workforce that supports the judiciary system and assists court users. Completing his diploma has encouraged him to participate in additional studies through an internal training program, and he looks forward to developing his skills and experience further in the court processes.
Another local resident, Dannii, completed a diploma of nursing under free TAFE. Dannii also wanted to be a doctor, but with five beautiful sons to look after, she put her family first. The free TAFE program gave her the opportunity she was looking for to start a new career. After graduating from Victoria University in 2022 with top marks in all her units, Dannii is now studying for a bachelor of nursing, with her ultimate goal being to work in midwifery. It is pleasing to hear of the direct benefits that local residents James and Dannii have gained. I am grateful to them for sharing their stories, and I wish them all the best in their future careers.