GOTAFE – Stepping up for community

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR STUDENTS AFFECTED BY ISOLATION...GOTAFE client engagement officer Skills & Jobs, Debbie Quinn, client engagement officer, Diane Pungitore, client services officer, Monica Kelly, client engagement officer, Ildi Kerry and client engagement officer, William Vise. Photo: Supplied
MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR STUDENTS AFFECTED BY ISOLATION…GOTAFE client engagement officer Skills & Jobs, Debbie Quinn, client engagement officer, Diane Pungitore, client services officer, Monica Kelly, client engagement officer, Ildi Kerry and client engagement officer, William Vise. Photo: Supplied

In these unprecedented times, accessing quality education and training is more important than ever. Education is the key to ensuring the economy and community can adjust, adapt and respond to our new circumstances. As a trusted regional education provider, GOTAFE is stepping up to support its students, staff, regional industry and local communities.

GOTAFE has remained open right throughout the isolation period and continues to deliver a range of education and training options to meet the needs of regional communities.

GOTAFE also provides a range of support and advice options for people whose employment may have been impacted by COVID-19 and encourages anyone to make contact with them to discuss the many options currently available, whether that be enrolling in a course or simply seeking out some free financial career guidance. A number of initiatives have also been put into place to ensure that financial hardship is not a barrier for somebody wanting to access quality education.

GOTAFE CEO, Travis Heeney said, “Now more than ever, GOTAFE is committed to delivering education and training for our communities and to supporting our students to be successful. Our primary focus is on providing a variety of education options to ensure our students can continue and complete their training during 2020.

“As such, we have provided around 140 additional laptops for staff and around 40 laptops for students to help them transition into online learning. We are also providing wellness checks and, with help from Shepparton Foodshare, we are conducting food drop offs to some of our most at-risk students.”

Maintaining a sense of connectedness is also important to GOTAFE during this time. Over recent weeks, the GOTAFE team have been working together to find ways to reach out into the community and provide support and opportunities for engagement.

“Our newly launched Community Connect campaign aims to engage with our community across a range of areas including physical health, emotional well-being, nutrition and education,” Travis explained.

“We have also been hosting regular staff catch-ups on Zoom, where around 300 staff members get a chance to check in with each other and feel connected to their community.”

GOTAFE’s new Student Life Hub is a great example of the Community Connect initiative. It is a new blog-style space on GOTAFE’s website that is designed for the student community, where they can find helpful tips and tricks, resources and other information to help make the most of their study experience.

For those just out of school or seeking to adjust their career, there has never been a better time to get in contact with one of GOTAFE’s career advisers.

Mr Heeney said, “I acknowledge that this is an extremely challenging time for many people in our community and I would urge them to simply take the first step and reach out to us, it could lead you anywhere.”