Giving kyneton students the best facilities and skills to work

Students in Kyneton will soon be able to finish high school with an apprenticeship or traineeship, ready for work in high demand and high growth industries thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Education James Merlino and Member for Macedon Mary Anne Thomas MP today visited Kyneton Secondary College to officially open the first part of the school’s $10.9 million-dollar upgrade of Building 2, including flexible learning environments for Years 7 and 8.

During his visit, Mr Merlino also announced that the school would receive funding under the Labor Government’s new Head Start Apprenticeships and Traineeships initiative.

Kyneton Secondary College has a strong record of supporting students through vocational education and has 137 students enrolled in VET across a range of subjects including kitchen operations, building and construction, engineering studies, business and creative industries.

Head Start will deliver up to 1,700 new apprenticeships and traineeships at over 100 secondary schools across Victoria, including at Kyneton Secondary College and other schools in the North Central Victoria Head Start group from next year – giving local students more support to study an apprenticeship or traineeship at school.

Students can stay at school an extra year to finish their VCAL, VCE and their apprenticeships while spending more time doing important, paid, on the job training.

Schools will get additional support and funding to help run Head Start. This includes a school-based Head Start coordinator to help deliver the initiative, providing employment and vocational pathway advice and one-on-one support to students.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 provided $49.8 million to deliver Head Start, alongside $109 million to overhaul secondary school career education and $26 million to enhance vocational education in schools.

Head Start will provide apprenticeships targeted at priority industries and traditional trades like construction, defence and health, with enterprise apprenticeships and traineeships to be developed that target high technology areas needed for the jobs of tomorrow, like coding.

The Labor Government’s Education State is making sure all students are supported to get a great education, stay in school and learn the skills they need for the future.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
"This fantastic initiative will give more students in North Central Victoria the support and skills they need to succeed in their chosen career and in life."

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary Anne Thomas MP
"We want all young Victorians who are learning a trade to be qualified and ready to work in areas where there are real job opportunities."