The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced that the Australian Technical College - Northern Tasmania will become a Catholic systemic senior secondary college owned and operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart.
The college will continue to operate as the Australian Technical College - Northern Tasmania from its Launceston and Burnie campuses in 2009, and will integrate into the Catholic School system in 2010.
The Australian Technical College campuses will join together with St Patrick’s College in Launceston and Marist Regional College in Burnie, supported by a strategic partnership with St Brendan-Shaw College in Devonport.
This College will continue as a Registered Training Organisation offering Certificate III level courses in building and construction, electrotechnology, commercial cookery, metal and engineering, automotive, and business and ICT. Hairdressing will also be offered from 2011.
Sid Sidebottom, the Federal Member for Braddon, welcomed the announcement, emphasised the value of integrating these facilities into the broader education and training effort in North and North-West Tasmania, and the ongoing continuity it offered for current students.
Jodie Campbell, the Federal Member for Bass, said industry will continue to play an integral part in leadership and the development of training programs to give students in the region the best education and training options available.
The Australian Government has worked closely with the Board of the Australian Technical College, the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart and the Tasmanian Government to develop this educational model.
The Government has consulted local stakeholders and all education and training sectors and state and territory governments regarding future arrangements for each of the 24 Australian Technical Colleges.
Announcements will be made regarding individual colleges as negotiations are finalised in the coming months.
As well as better integrating Australian Technical Colleges into existing education and training systems, the Australian Government is delivering $2.5 billion for Trade Training Centres in Schools that will benefit all Australian secondary schools.