News - Kevin Anderson MP supports ACE relief funding for Community College campuses

The NSW Government, through Training Services NSW (TSNSW), Department of Education has granted funding of $81,794 under the ACE Relief Grant to Community College Northern Inland Inc.

“The college has just been given a great 'leg up' that will assist us to continue to create and implement online and blended learning solutions” said Judy Campbell, President.

Alison Heagney, Executive Officer of Community College Northern Inland is cautious to not shift too far into online learning due to the rural and remote locations of the Campuses. “We are keeping our training going via hard copy materials, Zoom meetings and telephone conversations and in Term 2 will offer some classroom training with the required social distancing.”

"The issues that city based decision makers must understand is that the access to data and phone coverage is not consistent and our learners deserve the same access to training as those in cities and towns. This is very problematic and we are in this together with our students and the employers that we train for."

Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson MP was supportive of the grant funding in his comment:
"I look forward to seeing this funding make a real difference to those affected by the COVID-19 crisis across our region."

“Community College Northern Inland will use this money to assist in the delivery of flexible and targeted options to support, educate and train businesses and students to help in retaining a skilled workforce and keep people in jobs”.

Dr Perlgut, Community Colleges Australia CEO said: "This is a fabulous beginning from the NSW Government during this challenging moment. NSW ACE providers are unique: we focus on the needs of the state’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged, a group which has grown in the past six weeks. With unemployment due to rise in the coming months, Australia’s community education providers have never been more important."