Community Colleges Australia (CCA) has compiled a comprehensive list of “shovel ready” infrastructure maintenance projects that will support the NSW economy and train the state’s most vulnerable workers.
The list comprises part of a submission to the NSW Government to create a $4.8 million fund for the state’s not-for-profit adult and community education (ACE) providers. Each provider will receive up to $150,000, which will allow medium-size easy-to-implement projects.
“The projects will help our members prepare their facilities and campuses to be in great shape when our students return,” said Dr Don Perlgut, CEO of Community Colleges Australia (CCA).
“Thanks to the early intervention and support by the NSW Government, providing COVID-19 relief funding for the state’s ACE providers, we can now look to post-pandemic medium-term economic recovery activities,” said Dr Perlgut.
“A new infrastructure maintenance project will be well-timed. It will provide valuable economic stimulus to dispersed locations around the state and ensure ACE students return to modern facilities designed to provide them with the best skills for a post-pandemic economic recovery,” said Dr Perlgut.
More than 30 NSW ACE providers received NSW Government infrastructure maintenance funding in 2019/20. They efficiently and effectively managed numerous facility upgrades: click here to view “before” and “after” images from Lismore, Tamworth, Port Stephens, Fairfield, Guyra, Penrith, Rozelle and Brookvale.
“The value of community education providers is that they are local, serving their communities. Infrastructure investment in not-for-profit ACE providers is an investment in the state’s local communities. Materials will be delivered by local suppliers and built by local tradespeople. The jobs and economic benefits will stay local,” said Dr Perlgut.
The new projects will enable NSW ACE providers to deliver accredited VET and foundation skills to priority groups such as the large number of newly unemployed, small businesses in trouble and other vulnerable and disadvantaged people. Funding will also underpin the operational continuity of the NSW state-wide network of ACE providers, so their training capacity can survive now to thrive in the future.
Links:
- Submission to the NSW Government: Infrastructure Maintenance Funding for NSW Adult and Community Education Providers, 7 May 2020
- Illustrative recent projects completed by NSW ACE providers
