Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $25,000 for Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the funding will help to develop the capacity of the centre to best meet demand in the competitive training environment of the local snow sports industry.
He said, “The project will consult with local businesses to determine training requirements and traineeships.”
Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre’s CEO, Yvonne Evans said, “The funds will be utilised to develop a new strategic direction for the centre. There have been a number of challenges facing the centre this past two years due to government policy and we are hoping that this funding will enable us to undertake a critical examination of where we can go in the future and how we can get there.
“Sustainability is the key factor for us. Without a sustainable and viable future the centre will not survive and the community will be the ones to lose out. It takes an enormous effort to get a Neighbourhood Centre established in a community and once it is lost there may be no going back.
“We aim to prevent that if we can by being professional and adopting a business outlook towards our planning and development.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

Bright Adult Community Education Centre is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $19,800 for the Bright Adult Education Centre to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Bright Adult Community Education Centre to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the money would be used to provide opportunities to Learn Local organisations to develop programs and products aimed at building capacity and increasing the participation and attainment of learners.
He said, “This funding will greatly benefit the communities of Bright and Myrtleford and provide learning opportunities in the areas of aged care and the ski industry in particular.
Marg McCallum, Bright Adult Education Centre committee member and Jill Graham, coordinator of the Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre welcomed the funding.
In a joint statement they said that Bright Adult Education and Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre have partnered together in a joint project named Alpine Futures.
The project will focus on developing complementary strategic plans for the next three years clear clearly outlines both organisation’s visions for the future.
The development of financial and business plans will also help to improve the viability of each organisation and assist in making both sustainable and relevant within the Alpine Shire and the local community.
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

Waminda is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $36,020 for Benalla’s Waminda Community House to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Waminda to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the money would be used to provide opportunities to Learn Local organisations to develop programs and products aimed at building capacity and increasing the participation and attainment of learners.
He said, “The funding for Waminda will help the organisation to position itself as a preferred provider for the socio economically disadvantaged neighbourhood of West Benalla.
“Waminda will undertake research and community consultation, develop volunteers and develop sound learning pathways.”
Waminda Coordinator, Bobbie Titcher said, “The project will also work toward building the capacity of Waminda to serve the local community by strengthening the organisation’s governance and operating systems and establish stronger partnerships with other community organizations.
“A partnership has also been developed with The Centre to assist in the development of educational programs in the local community.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

This week in Parliament, Member for Benalla Bill Sykes highlighted the important work done by the nationally recognised Beacon program and the involvement of Euroa Secondary College and local business people in the initiative.
Dr Sykes said, “Last week I joined local business people and community leaders at Euroa Secondary College to learn more about the Beacon program courtesy of student ambassadors Sierra Weston, Lewis Meeny, Emily Wallace and Byron Craven.”
Beacon’s programs support young people to develop a positive attitude to education, employment, themselves and the wider community. The not for profit organisation currently works with 120 schools Australia wide.
Dr Sykes told Parliament that during the Community Connections Event at Euroa Secondary College on Wednesday 21 March 2012 student ambassadors spoke about the Beacon program and what it meant to them.
Euroa Secondary College student Sierra Weston said, “The Beacon program helps students gain many valuable skills such as public speaking skills, networking skills and a knowledge of how to present yourself. I am very proud of the leadership skills I have developed through my involvement with Beacon.”
Lewis Meeny said, “The Beacon program presents students with a great opportunity to connect with local businesses and the community.”
He also said it had helped him gain more of an understanding of careers and pathways. Most of all, he said he has really enjoyed speaking to successful and interesting people in the community.
Emily Wallace said Beacon had helped her explore many different careers and industries, some of which she did not even know existed. She said being a Beacon ambassador at Euroa Secondary College has definitely helped develop her confidence. She now finds speaking to a roomful of people exciting rather than scary.
Byron Craven said, “The Beacon program benefits not only students and schools but also local businesses and the community by raising interest and giving students the opportunity to talk to business people and find out potential pathways into the careers they want to be involved in after secondary school.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “I encourage all Euroa and district businesses and community leaders to get on board and support the Beacon program in its work in encouraging young people to achieve to the max.
“Remember, it takes a village to raise a child.”

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes is reminding young people from the Benalla electorate that application for The Nationals Scholarship For Young Leaders in 2012 closes on 24 February.
The scholarship will assist students from rural and regional Victoria through their chosen tertiary course. The total value of the Scholarship is $5,000 which may be shared amongst one or more successful applicants.
Dr Sykes said there has been great interest in the scholarship from young people throughout north east Victoria this year.
“This scholarship by The Nationals is aimed at ensuring country students can achieve their goals in further education,” Dr Sykes said.
“We believe it is important to keep our best and brightest young people in country Victoria and this scholarship offers rural students a great opportunity to gain financial assistance with their studies.”
The selection criteria for The Nationals Scholarship include the applicant’s academic record, leadership qualities and community involvement and will be awarded to students who are intending to return to or remain in country Victoria.
Special consideration may be given to students in hardship situations for whom the scholarship will provide major assistance.
“I encourage all school leavers and young people intending to undertake their first year of tertiary studies in 2012 to consider applying for The Nationals Young Leaders Scholarship,” Dr Sykes said.
The application process closes on 24 February 2012.
Application forms are available from Dr Sykes’ office at 2/55 Carrier Street, Benalla, phone 5762 2100 or from The Nationals website: www.vic.nationals.org.au