By PEACE IJIYERA
A NEW Community College Gippsland (CCG) campus has opened in Morwell.
Located on Hoyle Street, CCG aims to equip adults with educational and vocational training and the skills necessary to further develop their careers confidently.
CCG’s signature style of operating in smaller classrooms makes learning feel more personal, and the practical learning side of things gives students a taste of their chosen industry.
CCG has been in operation since 1975 and changed the lives of many. Last year, the not-for-profit organisation marked 50 years of service to the community. They celebrated this success in creating pathways for individuals who may not align with the traditional forms of education.
CCG Morwell offers more than 10 courses covering a range of careers including business, community services and education. Courses range from four to six weeks and are open from ages 17 (disengaged students). Enrolments have seen individuals aged over 60 attend classes.
At the official opening, dignitaries including Latrobe City Council Mayor, Sharon Gibson, Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron and Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester were in attendance. The trio all gave speeches highlighting and reinforcing the importance of alternate learning programs, promising their support.
Mr Chester thanked CCG staff for their efforts.
“What you’re doing here is giving people another chance. There are people in our community who have been left behind for a whole range of reasons … but you’re giving them a second chance and you’re making a difference,” he said.
Cr Gibson, in shared sentiment acknowledged, “it’s not all one size fits all”.
Cr Gibson also highlighted how individuals undertaking courses at CCG will assist in breaking cycles of low education rates.
“Something like this is actually helping break that cycle. So, it’s not just that person that is benefiting from it, it is the family and the families to come,” she said.
Former student, James Trewin gave insight into his journey from the classroom to the workforce, speaking about the newly gained knowledge and confidence he acquired from his health course undertaken at CCG.
It’s this confidence that inspires him to get up each day and work at Latrobe Regional Hospital.
Mr Trewin had the honour of cutting the green ribbon alongside CCG chief executive Dale Gemmell.
The opening of CCG Morwell comes after the closure of Gippsland Employment Skills Training (GEST) in December 2024 due to financial challenges. At the time, GEST chief executive Jen McCafferty bravely made a call to Mr Gemmell asking to join
forces and continue offering pre-accredited training to individuals in the community.
To finally see the official opening of CCG Morwell came as a “relief” to Ms McCafferty who is now the operations manager of Learn Local Work and Learning Centre at CCG.
“To make that call was one, really hard. Two, I’m just really grateful that they took on those operations, so that hard work wasn’t lost,” she said.
Mr Gemmell said it was “really exciting” to see a CCG campus open in Morwell.
“I’m just really proud of the team and of the organisation to have been in a position that they can actually step in and chip in and help out. It’s benefitted our organisation as well as the local community,” he said.
“Hopefully we can have more involvement in the Latrobe Valley in future as well.”
Mr Gemmell welcomes community support and encourages individuals to enrol in the courses that are ongoing.
“The community can help in a number of different ways; first obviously for those wanting to undertake some training or might be struggling to gain employment, they can come down and enrol in the courses,” he explained.
“Obviously, the more students that we get the more funding we get from the government that will help keep the doors open”.
