Skills Victoria Corporate

State Government of Victoria

Technical Education Centres

What are Technical Education Centres (TECs)?

Technical Education Centres (known as TECs) are being built at TAFE institutions in Victoria. They are purpose-built facilities and organisational hubs for the delivery of TAFE and secondary school programs on campus within TAFE. They provide a good learning environment for students, with access to TAFE staff and industry-standard equipment.

At a TEC students are part of an adult learning institution, but have access to specialised learning support appropriate to their age group. The TECs have good linkages with local industry and employment opportunities.

Who enrols in the TECs?

The TECs are for young people of around 16-19 years of age, who have already left school or who want to undertake training programs on campus in TAFE, while completing a secondary school certificate.

What programs do they offer?

This varies with each TEC, but in general the programs offered include VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) with a Certificate II or Certificate III level TAFE program, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and traineeships, and the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) in some instances.

The emphasis is on undertaking a training program within an industry-specific stream, such as building and construction, engineering, cookery or child care. The aim is to ensure that young people achieve the educational and vocational outcomes they are after, whether it's an employment opportunity or a pathway into further education and training.

Locations

TECs are currently being built at:

  • University of Ballarat, at the SMB campus, Lydiard Street South
  • Chisholm Institute of TAFE, at the Berwick campus
  • Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, at the Wangaratta campus in Docker Street
  • Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT), at the Heidelberg campus

The construction projects are at different stages of development. Programs have already commenced at Ballarat, Berwick and Wangaratta, in temporary facilities. The TEC at NMIT is scheduled to begin construction and enrolments in 2009.

Although not officially a TEC, the Vocational College at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE offers a similar range of opportunities to young people.

Need more information?

For more information, visit these websites:

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Last Updated: 18 November 2009