Townsville Bulletin

Upgrade a boost for TAFE students

- MATT TAYLOR

TAFE student Hannah Paneccasio should be finished her Cert III in hairdressi­ng, but with graduation delayed by COVID-19 she’ll have the added benefit of finishing her qualificat­ions in a brand new facility.

State-of-the-art upgrades to Pimlico’s TAFE Campus were unveiled yesterday, including brand new non-trade training facilities such as commercial kitchens and cafes, a simulated nursing ward and a hairdressi­ng and beauty salon.

It means students completing their qualificat­ions have access to North Queensland’s premier TAFE campus, and students like Hannah are lining up for more.

“I do want to come back and extend my goals to do beauty as well so I have both of those qualificat­ions under me,” she said.

“There is actually a campus in Home Hill, but I find if I come up here I get a lot more opportunit­ies. I’m in my last year (of hairdressi­ng) which is exciting and I’m planning on staying where I am at the moment in the Burdekin and in a couple of years’ time hoping to own my own salon.”

Upgrades to the facility on the corner of Fulham Rd and Hugh St were made possible by $35 million of State Government funding under the advancing our training infrastruc­ture program.

The site is being used as an exemplar for other campuses with new networking equipment, next generation high density Wi-fi and CCTV.

Minister for Training and Skills Developmen­t Shannon Fentiman toured the new building yesterday and labelled it an “exciting day” for Townsville.

“This is really going to make such a difference to the learning experience and hands-on skills young people in Townsville get, and it’s all about helping them get the very best jobs,” she said.

“We know the global coronaviru­s pandemic has hit economies right across the globe

“Queensland and ville are obviously mune.

“Now that we have managed the health crisis of COVID-19 so well, we are looking firmly at our economic recovery.”

The new 2000 sqm building is the first to be added to the Pimlico campus in 40 years.

Townsnot im

 ??  ?? TAFE student Hannah Paneccasio with Minister for Training and Skills Developmen­t Shannon Fentiman yesterday.
TAFE student Hannah Paneccasio with Minister for Training and Skills Developmen­t Shannon Fentiman yesterday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia