South Regional TAFE’s Harvey campus and the Harvey Community Resource Centre (HCRC) have been working together to help locals complete a variety of job-related courses in 2020 and 2021.
Fourteen students who enrolled in Business Administration, Early Childhood Education and Care, Education Support and Gaining Access to Training and Employment (GATE) have accessed funding support from HCRC since last October.
Once their studies are completed, these students will have the skills to apply for work in these areas or go on to further study.
The HCRC received funds from the Shire of Harvey and Lotterywest to help local people affected by COVID-19 or those who had reduced opportunities to find study or work due to the pandemic.
This backing enabled the HCRC to cover course fees for those eligible Harvey locals wanting to complete a course at the Harvey campus, and the centre is considering extending financial support for TAFE courses beyond this semester.
Business Administration students Everlyn Baga and Liway Espinosa are grateful to the HCRC for covering their course fees.
All the students experienced challenges to accessing study. For Liway and Everlyn, it meant learning English as a second language.
The students value the opportunity to study locally and gain a qualification to help them find work.
Everlyn said she was thankful to HCRC for their support.
“I realise this is a big privilege to receive the funding so it encourages me to study hard,” Everlyn said.
“If I hadn’t received it, I would have had to save up for the course fees first,” she said.
Liway said she was open to any job opportunities her qualification led to.
“I consider the funding a blessing as I have two children and don’t have the ability to pay for the course up front, so I would have had to access a payment plan,” Liway said.
All the students were happy to study locally at the new campus facilities.
“It makes our studies easier as we don’t have to drive to another location or spend money on fuel to travel,” Liway said.
GATE student Rebecca McKenzie said she was excited to have her course fees paid.
“It’s provided me with the confidence and support to do the course,” she said.
South Regional TAFE Harvey Campus Manager Roche Angon said the college was delighted to collaborate with the CRC.
“The initiative assists Harvey locals who are out of work, considering upskilling, school leavers and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,” Roche said.
“We can provide vocational education and training to develop their capabilities,” she said.
HCRC Manager Tracey-Ann Davis said she believed the financial support would go a long way towards providing the Harvey community with the skills they needed to bridge training gaps and access local employment.
Pictured are Business Administrations students Everlyn Baga and Liway Espinosa with Harvey CRC Manager Tracey-Ann Davis, student Sarah Beltran and Regional campus manager Roche Angon.
Pictured below, Harvey Community Resource Centre grant: Harvey TAFE Gaining Access to Training and Employment students: Rebecca McKenzie, Janette Boylan, Chantel Meeres, Cody Birch, Crystal Vandijik and Fiona Rogers.