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Works to commence on new health training hub in Essendon
More than 900 aspiring health care workers will soon be able to train at a new state-of-the-art health hub in Essendon.
Plans to develop Kangan Institute’s new $1.99m health training hub were unveiled this morning at Essendon campus by the Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney MP, and the Member for Essendon and Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson MP.
The announcement is backed by a new Memorandum of Understanding between Kangan Institute and Moonee Valley City Council which will leverage the capabilities and facilities of both organisations to support the future local health care training needs.
Kangan Institute Chief Executive Sally Curtain said the new health hub and alliance with Moonee Valley City Council will enable the TAFE to deliver modern and relevant, outcomes-driven training.
“It’s fantastic to see this significant investment in our Essendon Health Hub which means more students can study nursing, pathology, mental health, allied health, aged care and disability. Kangan Institute is well set up to meet the growing skills demand in these critical sectors,” said Ms Curtain.
“Our alliance with Moonee Valley City Council will ensure the new Essendon Health Hub serves our community’s current and future health needs and creates pathways to meaningful new jobs.”
Data from the National Skills Commission has identified a strong demand for nursing and health workers, with the number of employed nurses in inner Melbourne seeing a 25 per cent increase over the last five years.
Ms Curtain said the focus of the hub was on enabling positive job outcomes for learners, with key elements of the new facility to include Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) accredited health simulation spaces and industry-standard equipment.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us just how important our amazing health workers are. This investment in our next generation of frontline workers will see two state-of-the-art ANMAC accredited simulation lab so Kangan students learn in the best possible environment to prepare them well for the critical jobs they’ll go into,” said Ms Curtain.
A heritage-listed site with origins dating to 1939, the refurbishment of Essendon campus will commence this month, with construction company Barpa appointed to carry out the works.
Barpa is a majority Indigenous owned business and up to 20 tradespeople and apprentices are expected to be employed through the project.
“We are excited to work with Barpa and support the empowerment of Indigenous people as we undertake this milestone project for Essendon campus,” said Ms Curtain.
“Our Essendon campus has a proud history of serving its community, starting with its origins as a technical school during a time when north west Melbourne thrived as an industrial precinct.
“Working hand in hand with our partners, we are looking forward to rejuvenating this heritage-listed campus and meeting today’s unprecedented demand for health skills within our community.”
Works are expected to be complete in March 2022.
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