The Andrews Labor Government will secure the future of Prahran as a vibrant education and arts precinct under a plan to purchase the local university campus and deliver a long-term plan for Victorian students and the community.
Minister for Higher Education and Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today announced an in-principle agreement with Swinburne University of Technology to continue high-quality local training by purchasing three parcels of land between Chapel, High, Thomas, and Green streets.
As part of more than $1 billion in cuts to TAFE funding, the former Liberal-³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ government caused Swinburne to end training in Prahran – but still gifted almost half of the site’s land to Swinburne in 2013, despite knowing training would cease.
As a condition of the proposed sale, the Labor Government will ensure almost half the proceeds will be reinvested by Swinburne University into TAFE at its other campuses to offset the historical gift with high-quality training opportunities for Victorians.
It will also allow the Labor Government to consider opportunities to further enhance the site into the future in collaboration with students, trainers, industry and the local community through a campus master planning process.
The sale price will be determined by the Valuer-General Victoria.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has invested a record $3.2 billion to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education – ensuring Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
As stated by Minister for Higher Education and Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
“We’re backing the future of Prahran’s vibrant education and arts precinct – and ensuring Victorians get the very best training and jobs opportunities locally and right across the state.”
“The former Liberal-³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Government made a mess of the Prahran campus and can’t be trusted to back TAFE -it has taken the Andrews Labor Government to secure the future of high-quality training at the site.”
As stated by Member for Southern Metropolitan Region Nina Taylor
“Our plan to secure the future of the Prahran campus is great news for students and training providers – but also the local community who benefit from the vibrant education and arts precinct.”
As stated by Melbourne Polytechnic Chief Executive Frances Coppolillo
“We are delighted with this announcement by the Victorian Government, and we look forward to the opportunity to further develop a vibrant and innovative creative arts precinct in collaboration with each stakeholder.”
