By Peter Douglas
Twenty local schools are set to partner with the new Yarra Ranges Tech School, which was officially opened at a special launch on Tuesday 18 April.
In a boost for students and employers across the Yarra Ranges, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Premier James Merlino joined a host of leaders to open the ground-breaking new facility, located at the former Swinburne Lilydale campus.
The doors of the campus were padlocked in 2013 after funding cuts, but have been reopened by a new provider, Box Hill Institute.
About 12,000 local students will capitalise on the leading edge technology available at the site.
Mr Merlino told the ‘Mail’ the site’s reopening is an incredible achievement.
“I’ve previously said that the re-opening of this site was my single biggest issue as Monbulk MP, and I still absolutely feel that way,” he said.
“The reaction from the community has been overwhelming; people were appalled that the former Liberal Government had forced the closure of this campus.
“They were denying local kids a pathway to the skills they needed for the jobs of the future.”
Mr Merlino said Tuesday’s launch was a far cry from only a few years ago.
“This campus was boarded up and the gates were padlocked,” he said.
“The site was a ghost town, ready to be sold off to the highest bidder.
“I am so proud that Labor stepped in and saved the Lilydale Lakeside Campus.”
“But – not only have we saved this campus – we have turned the site into a high-tech education facility for students right across the outer-east.”
About 1000 students are already enrolled at Lilydale Lakeside, while the new Yarra Ranges Tech School means a further 12,000 local students will now have access to this campus.
Mr Merlino said students would also learn from, talk to and work with experts and professionals from industries forecast to offer the greatest employment and economic growth in the local area.
Joining Mr Andrews and Mr Merlino at the launch was Member for Eastern Victoria, Daniel Mulino; and Member for Eastern Metropolitan Region, Shaun Leane.
The Yarra Ranges site is now one of 10 new Tech Schools being built under the Victorian Government’s $128 million Tech Schools Initiative, which uses new technology to deliver advanced education and training in science, engineering and maths.
Led by director, Danny Tay, the Yarra Ranges Tech School includes 20 partner schools and has a local focus on precision manufacturing, digital technologies including medical robotics, sustainability and renewables, food, fibre and biotechnology.
Partner schools include:
Belgrave Heights Christian School; Billanook College; CIRE School; Edinburgh College; Healesville High School; Lilydale Heights College; Lilydale High School; Mater Christi College; Monbulk College; Mooroolbark College; Mount Evelyn Christian School; Mount Lilydale Mercy College; Mountain District Christian School; Oxley Christian School; Sherbrooke Community School; Upper Yarra Secondary College; Upwey High School; Worawa Aboriginal College; Yarra Hills Secondary College; Yarra Ranges Special Development School.
More details on the Yarra Ranges Tech School at www.yrts.boxhill.edu.au.
