Truganina centre steers course to jobs

VICTORIA’S largest driver training centre has opened in Truganina.

National training provider Foresite Training opened the centre last week, providing western suburbs students and workers with somewhere to learn to drive trucks and machinery.

The centre includes a fully-operational warehouse and 8000-square-metre driving range, with additional earthmoving training areas.

It will allow students to complete courses in forklift driving, warehouse operations and earthmoving.

Spokeswoman Debbie Carter said the new centre would allow Foresite to expand its training programs and provide workplace traineeships.

She said heavy vehicle and motorcycle licence courses would also be available, making students job-ready.

Higher Education Minister Peter Hall visited the Leakes Road centre last Tuesday and was given a truck-driving lesson by a trainer.

The centre would boost training opportunities in the western suburbs, he said.

As reported by the Weekly, the centre will be joined by a Wyndham trades training facility, which will open at four secondary schools next year.

WynBay Local Learning and Employment Network chief executive Dallian D’Cruz said training centres helped add to the provision of skilled young people in Wyndham.

“We need a skilled employment base that employers can tap into.”