Tara Murray
A partnership between Victoria University and Brimbank council continues to grow.
The two organisations signed a three year partnership agreement last year, with VU’s new Vice-Chancellor Adam Shoemaker and Brimbank mayor Ranka Rasic recently meeting face-to-face for the first time at VU’s Sunshine Skills Hub.
The meeting reaffirmed the Memorandum of Understanding’s (MoU) priorities between the two organisations to improve access to skills, learning and jobs in Brimbank and Melbourne’s west, and support COVID recovery across local communities.
Professor Shoemaker and Cr Rasic spoke about several initiatives which VU and Brimbank are continuing to engage on.
The key initiatives include the 2050 Sunshine Priority Strategy, VU’s Sunshine Skills Hub, supporting advocacy around a jobs and skills taskforce being based in Brimbank and a new jobs and skills institute for VU.
Professor Shoemaker said they were incredibly proud of what has been achieved so far in the partnership.
“Our aspirations for the Brimbank community, and our joint objectives, are only strengthened by our MOU,” he said.
“With campuses in Sunshine and St Albans, and a presence at Sunshine Hospital, VU is well positioned to play a pivotal role in the evolution of the Sunshine Priority Precinct through providing access to tertiary education, as well as the learning, skills and translational research programs, that build industry capability and underpin a strong local economy.
“Through our research projects, accessible study options via the Block Model and online short courses, and our state-of-the-art facilities, Victoria University has much to offer the people of Brimbank.
“Our focus is to continue to providing lifelong learning and impactful employment pathway opportunities for the communities in the west of Melbourne.”
Cr Rasic said the partnership was more important now than ever, as part of the area’s COVID-19 recovery.
“Council is proud to work in partnership with VU, to help identify and align local learning, skills and employment pathways,” she said.
“Along with these initiatives, we are also delighted to engage with VU around the potential of the Sunshine Priority Precinct, as well as VU’s Sunshine and St Albans campuses.
“Our collaboration and shared vision to help influence an optimal design outcome around the Melbourne Airport Rail Project is vital in this regard, especially as we seek to integrate a new Albion Station corridor with a new education and innovation precinct known as the SunRISE Quarter”.
