By REBECCA BILLS and KATH GANNAWAY
THE announced closure of Morrisons in Mount Evelyn last week has sparked concerned of the lack of vocation education and post-secondary learning in the region.
The education and training organisation employed 180 people was a leading not-for-profit provider of State and Federal government funded accredited training, along with Upper Yarra Community House and Healesville Living and Learning Centre in the Yarra Valley.
The 2011 ABS Census data shows the Yarra Ranges highest education attainment of certificates is 7.2 per cent higher than Metro Australia and 0.3 per cent higher in advanced diploma attainments.
Yarra Valley Educational Precinct committee leader Bernard Dobson said the closure of Morrisons meant the outer-east was now the most educationally underprivileged region in Melbourne in regard to post-secondary education.
The closure of Swinburne at Lilydale last year sent shockwaves through the Yarra Ranges communities taking away the option for many people in the outer-east to participate in post-secondary education and training at a not-for-profit institution.
“Education has been reduced even further with the closure of Morrisons,” Mr Dobson said.
“The statistics show how important advanced diplomas and certificate courses have been for our community and the need to raise levels of higher education.”
Sally Brennan*, CEO of Upper Yarra Community House in Yarra Junction for the past 23 years, spoke out last week about the difficulties faced by not-for-profit organisations in the face of drastic and unexpected funding cuts in November last year.
“We were getting $9 per student hour, then around mid-November, it dropped to $5 per student hour,” she said.
“Many of our students need extra support to get into education and to get through the courses, but the current funding doesn’t include any funding for that sort of support,” she said.
“What we are seeing is that the most vulnerable are the ones getting the roughest deal.”
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said that even after the closure of Morrisons there were still 17 registered training providers within 10 kilometres of Mount Evelyn that delivered accredited training.
“I would encourage anyone looking for training to visit the Victorian Government’s Skills Gateway at education.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway,” she said.
“Further to this we are working with Swinburne University in procuring interest in education providers to buy or lease the Lilydale campus for delivering education services to the local community.”
Opposition Minister for Higher Education Steve Herbert said Morrison House provided much-need adult and community education for nearly 40 years, employing 180 people.
“It’s one of the largest employers in Mount Evelyn, but cuts have forced its closure,” he said.
“So soon after Swinburne Lilydale shut its doors, the closure of this large community training organisation is another blow to people in Melbourne’s outer-east who now have fewer options for their future.
“This long-standing community organisation provides vital education programs to Victoria’s most vulnerable learners.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s social and economic development director Ali Wastie said the council was committed to ensuring the sites that Morrisons currently occupies is made available to educational providers who may wish to provide services.
“This is the case for the Old Hereford Road, the Station House and our facilities that kindergartens operate out of,” she said.
“The council is hopeful vocational education and post-secondary learning opportunities will still be available in Mount Evelyn and that service delivery will continue.
“The council is working with Morrisons, DHS, CHAOS, Neighbourhood Houses and the Department of Education to ensure as much continuation of service as possible and to minimise disruption.”
* Ms Brennan is also the Labor Candidate for the Seat of Eildon.
