There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

We head into the weekend without having any cases or suspected cases of coronavirus across our network. We are really pleased that our collective efforts in social distancing and increased hygiene practices are contributing to Australia’s success in managing the spread of the virus. It means there is no increased pressure on the health system, and those who do need urgent medical care are not impacted.

Maintaining our digital delivery of education is still challenging. We know that many of our students are keen to get back to campus as quickly as possible, but for now we need to keep delivering all theory and as much practical as possible by remote and digital means.

Where it is essential and unavoidable, we are holding practical assessments on campus. These are staggered to ensure the least amount of people are on campus at any one time, and that all social distancing rules are followed.

Hand sanitiser stations have been installed around our campuses, please use them. If masks and gloves are required, they will be provided. If you are unwell at all, please do not come to campus. Let your teacher know so that other arrangements can be worked through.

Our work-arounds to help students carry out their practical work have been attracting attention. Some of our Year 12 VET Hair and Beauty students have told their school what has worked for them and how the remote training still allows them to keep up with their studies. You can read about that here.

The Victorian Government has announced a $45 million fund to support international students in Victoria facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The fund is being delivered in partnership with Victoria's tertiary education providers.  

Our international students facing financial hardship as the result of job and income losses since March 2020 can now apply for this once-only support payment up to $1,100. We have established a dedicated team of student support officers to receive and assess applications to determine eligibility for this financial assistance and disperse the funds. 

If you are an international student or know someone who might need this information please contact our International Team by phone at 9279 2631 or email international@kangan.edu.au

​Have a great weekend, stay healthy and safe.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

We end the week on a really positive note – no cases of coronavirus among our staff or students as of today Friday May 8, and we have not been notified of any of the stakeholders in our wider group being impacted either.

The instances of the disease spreading in our community has slowed considerably, which means the tough measures put in place by the federal and state governments have been successful. The point has been to ensure our health system and hospitals are not overwhelmed, and that everyone needing care for whatever illness they have, can get it.

Today the Prime Minister announced the next steps to move Australia out of lockdown, and he outlined how each state and territory will now need to set the pace for that change.

One key point that applies everywhere is his statement on coming to work if you are sick:

"No more heroics of coming to work with a cough and a cold and a sore throat. That's off the agenda for every Australian for the foreseeable future. Please."

While our students and teachers have moved off campus, our construction progress rolls on.

In Bendigo we are making great headway on our campus redevelopment, and having less people around is actually making it a bit similar for the construction crews to get their work done.

An added bonus is that our construction and building students have had real-time practical experience of being on the construction site to learn how things are done. This flexibility from our construction partners is excellent, and we are grateful that we have such practical learning environments to showcase right on our doorstep. 

Our students continue to make us proud – just today we heard that one of our Plumbing students, Andrew Jan, is one of the winners of a Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grant. He will receive $2,000 to help with his TAFE fees and textbooks, $1,000 to help build his own trade toolbox, and a tool tote bag for transport and storage of tools on the jobsite. 

Congratulations Andrew!

We are grateful for the support of organisations like Rheem, who see the value of the apprenticeship scheme. The Victorian Government has already outlined that it believes TAFE training is going to be critical for economic stimulus post-coronavirus, and we know it is an excellent option for our students.

According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research, 91.5 per cent of apprentices who complete a trade apprenticeship retain employment, with a median annual salary of $62,800.

Some of the students and staff from Bendigo Kangan Institute are taking part in a Push-Up Challenge Community event as a way to promote fitness, mental health and community spirit.

It starts on Monday and involves doing lots of push-ups for the month… Fun!

Fundraising is optional but if you do, the recipient is Headspace Bendigo which is an organisation providing mental and physical health support for young people.

We challenge you to PUSH yourself by signing up and if you do create a team, let us know so we can check out your efforts.

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

We have ticked over into May and have now been set up to deliver our courses digitally for five weeks.  It is still a challenge in some respects, but we are very pleased with everyone’s efforts – thank you.

There are no staff or students who have reported to have contracted coronavirus as of today at 3:00 pm on Friday 1 May. We are not aware of any suspected cases or people awaiting test results. The number of new cases across Victoria since yesterday is in the single digits, which continues to please health officials.

Social distancing and good hygiene practices have made a significant impact for Australia.

Horticulture students at Bendigo TAFE have developed stunning ways on how you can transform your space with greenery, with three hanging gardens selected as finalists for the 2020 Great Victorian Hanging Basket Competition.

As part of the 2020 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and led by the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria, the 2020 Great Victorian Hanging Basket Competition received over 550 entries from across the state. Entries were submitted through digital photographs following the cancellation of the show due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Finalists include,  Bendigo TAFE students Ken Price, Rhys O’Sullivan and Mark Borradaile who are completing the Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30710) at our Castlemaine campus. We wish them all the very best and congratulate them on their efforts thus far.  Winners to be selected through online voting by the public.

The public are now invited to vote for the Most Popular Baskets at http://www.rhsv.org.au – voting will close on Sunday 17 May at 5pm.  Please get behind our talented students by showing them your support and vote!

The Victorian Government this week announced a $45 million support package for international students called International Student Emergency Relief Fund.

This fund will provide up to 40,000 eligible international students experiencing financial hardship as a result of employment loss due to COVID-19 with a one-off payment of up to $1,100 to help cover necessities such as rent, food, utilities and healthcare.

Details on the program and a form for students to register their interest are available on the Victorian Government's Study Melbourne website.  Please direct any students you know that may benefit from this resource.

The weather has definitely taken a wintry turn this week. We hope you all stay warm, safe and healthy over the weekend!

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

We have no cases of coronavirus affecting any staff or students across the Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute network, and that is no surprise given the number of cases reported across Victoria have continued to drop. Only six new cases were reported yesterday.

Regardless, we can’t lose sight of the health risks. There is no cure or vaccine for coronavirus as yet, and we need to provide new levels of health safety to keep this disease at bay as much as we can.

As TAFE is an essential service all students are permitted to travel outside their homes during this lockdown period when the journey is connected with their studies.

To help our students feel secure about this, we have developed a letter than can be downloaded and carried with you.

You can download this from the student portal.

A reminder that although access to our physical library spaces have been reduced until further notice, all services are available online.

Broadmeadows

(for basic library services and computer access)

9:00 am - 1:00 pm (Monday – Thursday)   

Access to computers at the Broadmeadows Campus is also available in Building J, Room 207 

8:30am - 5:00pm  

Docklands 

Closed

Essendon 

(Computer access only)

8:00 am - 8:30 pm

(Monday – Thursday)

8:00 am - 6:00 pm (Friday)  

Richmond

(Computer access only)

8:30 am - 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday)

The book collection is closed.

Our online e-Library is available 24/7 as normal.

Our online chat service (accessible from the right-hand side tab on the e-Library) is live during office hours.

We have produced a guide for students studying from home. This includes information on how to login to the network and how to access MyLearning, with contact numbers for password resets and other connection problems.

The guide also has tips on studying from home (including how to stay safe), as well as a page of newly available stuff available online for free.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Regards,

Bendigo TAFE & Kangan Institute

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

There are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff.

E-mail updates will be provided every Friday.

Another short week and it ends on the positive note that there are no reported cases of coronavirus across our network of students or staff. Australia is doing very well to slow the spread of this virus, which you can see for yourself as each day the Department for Health and Human Services provides an update on the latest number of cases.

We have now been off campus for three weeks, but our on-site cleaning regime has still continued.

That means we can be confident that as there have been very few people on any campus, the chance of the virus making its way on campus is extremely unlikely. Our regular and vigilant cleaning process will have kept all areas sanitised every day, regardless.

This cleaning schedule will continue as we do have some staff on some campuses, and our libraries are still available for student use.

The Government is still requiring us to continue as much digital or remote delivery as we can, which is working well at the moment.

A good example is the work load being delivered by the team managing our automotive courses. Last week 136 courses were held online, and next week that will increase to 160. It is great to see that attendance rates are between 80 and 90 per cent, so it appears that doing theory remotely is not putting students off.

Thanks for your patience as we adapt to this new way of teaching.

This will continue for some time with ongoing support of the Government as Premier Daniel Andrews announced today, which you can read about here.

This will be our last daily message to students, we can see from the reduced rate of emails being opened that this may not be of as much use to students on a regular basis.

These updates will now come out every Friday.

However, don’t forget that support is always available to you and that we have a range of ways for you to reach out for help.

Email: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Skype: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Phone: 03 5434 1755

Text Message: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

WhatsApp: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

Therefore, it is definitely OKAY to think to the future and as part of that future-focus, BBM has launched its 2021 BBM Global Industry Scholarships for young Australians.

The scholarships offer $8,000 grants for 17-23 year olds to take on the opportunity of a lifetime. The funds cover two to three months’ travel in which time students will learn from global leaders in their industry (agriculture, trades, horticulture and performing arts) before bringing their new skills and ideas back to Australia.

Applications are now open online at www.bbm.asn.au and close midnight 8 May.

In an announcement today the Prime Minister said that we should expect our current levels of social distancing to remain in force for another four weeks. He also explained that the impact on our health system is currently manageable and that is really positive. A rundown on today’s announcement from the media is here, and a version direct from government is published here.

We continue to be delivering the good news that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Thursday 16 April.

Library operating hours for term two

 

Access to our physical spaces has been reduced until further notice.

Bendigo City Campus:  8:00 am – 2:00 pm (Monday – Friday)

Telephone: 5434 1750  

Email: libraryservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

e-library: www.bendigotafe.edu.au/library

With no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Wednesday 15 April, we are really pleased to know everyone is healthy across our Bendigo TAFE network.

Please continue to practise those excellent social distancing skills and good personal hygiene. 

The dangers of sitting too long     

Sitting down can be a nice break during a busy day, but as we have started to study and work remotely we have all become a lot less active. These fascinating stats published by Apple show exactly how that has changed by region across the world.

Unfortunately, research suggests that sitting for more than four hours each day can have some serious effects on our bodies. Don’t forget to take a break away from your computer when you can, get some fresh air and exercise.

The reduction of traffic on our Bendigo campuses has allowed some of the revitalisation work to progress earlier than originally planned. Carpark 9 is almost complete and has re-opened. Carpark 10 is due for completion in early May.

Meanwhile, the significant reduction in the use of the main carpark adjacent to Building AR has allowed for building works to start with the installation of portable classrooms as of today, 15 April. The access road past Building P will remain operational.

We apologise for any inconvenience to those still using campus facilities, and questions or concerns can be directed to capitalworksprogram@bendigokangan.edu.au.

Don’t forget that there is help at hand for any students unfamiliar with the BlueJeans format we are using for some class delivery:

Students are also invited to access one-on-one online Learning Support from our Maths and English specialist teachers. Just email one of our teachers to book a one-on-one appointment. Check the details below:

Hope you’ve all had a great and relaxing Easter break.

It was announced on the weekend that the state of emergency in Victoria has been extended for another four weeks, to give us the best chance of combating the effects of COVID-19 on our health system.

Stage 3 restrictions will stay in place for the same period i.e. until midnight 11 May. You can read about that and all other Government information here.

As education is an essential service, we will continue operating and delivering courses for our students through digital and remote learning channels.

We will continue to operate this way until told otherwise, so we will all remain working, teaching and studying remotely where possible. The exception will be any practical course work that needs to be completed and this will be carried out under the social distancing guidelines as much as possible. 

We are pleased to continue to report that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Tuesday 14 April.

The importance of practising social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community.

Please remember that social distancing rules apply and are required to be followed at all times. Please keep at least 2 metres away from other library users, and remember to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before using the library equipment. ​

As we take a well-earned Easter break we are pleased to report that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Thursday 9 April. If this changes, we will let you know.

The importance of practising social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community. Thank you!

As education is an essential service, we continue operating and delivering courses for our students. The difference is that we are doing that through digital and remote learning channels – we know this is challenging for some people but it is to everyone’s credit that we have been able to adapt so quickly to this change.

The Government has told us we need to continue operating this way for a while, so as of Tuesday we will all remain working, teaching and studying remotely where possible.  The exception will be any practical course work that needs to be completed and this will be carried out under the social distancing guidelines as much as possible. Your teacher will let you know if this applies to you.

For guidance on general social distancing you can watch our video here.

 

Stay home this Easter break. Leave only to get groceries, do exercise, or seek medical care. Stay home. Stay safe!

There are still no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Wednesday 8 April, which is excellent. We will update you if this changes.

 

As education is an essential service, we remain operating and delivering courses. The difference is that we are now doing that through digital and remote learning channels.

The Government has told us we need to continue operating this way for a while yet, so as of Tuesday we will all remain working, teaching and studying remotely where possible.  The exception will be any practical course work that needs to be completed, and this will be carried out under the social distancing guidelines as much as possible.

For advice about that, watch our social distancing video here.

The message is really clear from the health specialists. Stay home this Easter break. Only leave the safe bubble of your home for essential things like groceries, exercise, and medical care. 

Why not tune into the Supercars All Stars Eseries starting tonight!

The race will be live streamed on the Supercars Facebook page every Wednesday from 7pm, starting tonight: https://www.facebook.com/supercars/

Vin Ryan, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts teacher (Corrections department) created a fast forward video on HOW TO DRAW A KOALA, as a trial and demonstration on how this technology can be used in the future creative arts space.

 Working or studying at home has led to a lot of creativity – we’d love to hear yours. Please send your tips and photos to corporatecommunications@kangan.edu.au

Bendigo TAFE are doing everything possible to ensure our students have access to support during these confusing and challenging times.

 

TalkCampus is a 24/7 global anonymous group chat that lets students connect with their peers around the world in 25 different languages in a moderated environment, giving our international students another option to reach out for support.

 

Students can register using the unique Bendigo TAFE email address, which was provided at enrolment. Please log on to the student portal or refer to the student handbook to find your student email address.

We also have teams available wherever you are to lend an ear.

As of today, Tuesday 7 April, we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff.

However, we want to emphasise the importance of continuing to practise social distancing and good hygiene wherever you are. This is the best way to slow the spread of the virus, and ensure that the health system is able to cope with any serious cases as they occur in the wider community.

While we are all navigating our new normal it is also OK to think to the future, as there will come a time when life will return to normal. As part of that future-focus, BBM has launched its 2021 BBM Global Industry Scholarships for young Australians.

The scholarships offer $8,000 grants for 17-23 year olds to take on the opportunity of a lifetime. The funds cover two to three months’ travel in which time students will learn from global leaders in their industry (agriculture, trades, horticulture and performing arts) before bringing their new skills and ideas back to Australia.

 Applications are now open online at www.bbm.asn.au and closes at midnight 8 May.  

Our Events team has created Self-care Bingo cards to stay mentally and physically healthy when practising social distancing:

Lastly, we know that working or studying at home has led to a lot of creation – we’d love to see yours. Please send your tips and photos to corporatecommunications@kangan.edu.au

We continue to be pleased that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as of this afternoon, Monday 6 April.

The importance of practicing social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community. Thank you!

Bendigo TAFE are doing everything possible to ensure our students have access to support during these confusing and challenging times.

 

We are pleased to be leading the way as the first Australian TAFE to embrace technology and extend further support to our students. Today we launch a new peer to peer mental health support app called TalkCampus which adds to the range of support services we already have in place for our students. 

 

TalkCampus is a 24/7 global anonymous group chat that lets students connect with their peers around the world in 25 different languages in a moderated environment, giving our international students another option to reach out for support.

 

Students can register using their unique Bendigo TAFE email address, which was provided at enrolment. Please log on to the student portal or refer to the student handbook to find your student email address.

 

TalkCampus will be a helpful tool for many students, but it will not replace the support that is also available from our exceptional team on the ground. To talk to someone, all you need to do is reach out.

​It has been another very busy and challenging week for us all, but we are pleased to be able to report that we do not have any confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus affecting our students or staff as at this afternoon, Friday 3 April.

Social distancing and good hygiene is evident on our campuses, and we know people are also following the guidance at home. This is having a positive impact for the whole community, thank you to everyone. We have produced videos to explain social distancing and the correct handwashing procedures and you can find them here.

There has been a lot of information shared by the Government about what people can and cannot do while managing life in these unprecedented times. The ABC has published a helpful guide you might find useful, especially over the weekend.​

We are hearing great stories about people adapting their work and study processes while we are all in this more digitally-focused environment. We had hundreds of courses delivered by digital means this week – a significant change for our organisation and our students, but one we have embraced and adapted to quickly.

And our subject material has had to adapt too. Here’s an animal studies grooming class about to be broadcast from the teachers’ deck… and the client looks quite happy about it too.​

Our Skills and Jobs Centre has adapted its operations and is fully operational at this time. The centre is offering free employment workshops, career & employment advice and support via online, over phone and email. The centre is offering FREE 1:1 consultations for those who are;

Contact the centre on 1300 100 606 or email:

In other news, we are very proud of our baking students Russell Sawtell and Rosario Thomas, who clinched first and second place awards at the Baking Association of Australia’s annual Victorian Baking Show held in Shepparton on 14 March.

Armed with mouth-watering chocolate, ginger and chilli pull-apart loaf, 100% rye sourdough and a three-layer black forest gateau, our baking students wowed baking industry experts from across Victoria.

And finally, please don’t forget that there is help at hand if you need it at any time. Our professional counselling staff can be reached in many ways.

This is a very unsettling and challenging time for everyone, but you are not alone, and we want to make sure everyone gets the support they need.​​

​Bendigo TAFE:

Email: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Skype: studentsupportservices@bendigotafe.edu.au

Phone: 03 5434 1755

Text Message: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)

WhatsApp: 0417 824 270 (Student Support Bendigo)​

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

​​Bendigo TAFE

Good Afternoon,

The good news continues in that we have no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus relating to any of our staff or students at any of our campuses, as at today Thursday 2nd April 2020.

The Government’s strict new regulations around social gatherings are designed to limit unnecessary contact and therefore exposure to coronavirus. As you will have read from other countries’ experiences, this is a critical tool to slow the spread of this virus.

Each day the Department for Health and Human Services provides an update on the latest number of cases available to the public.

As of today more than 49,000 people have been tested in Victoria and there have been 1035 confirmed cases of coronavirus. This equates to 0.01% of Victoria’s 6.3m population. Of those cases 828 are in Melbourne and 193 are in regional areas.

In total 422 (or 40%) have already recovered which means there are just 613 people currently with the infection and of those 36 are in hospital. In total, five people have died. These statistics show that the chance of contracting the virus in Victoria is relatively low right now.

However, there are now 57 confirmed cases of community transmission in Victoria which means the person with coronavirus has not been overseas, or had close personal contact with someone who has. This growing number is the reason that it is essential to stay at home if you can.

The more exposure to other people and places you have, the higher the chance of becoming unwell. Details explaining when you are allowed to leave your home are published here.

Attending TAFE to work or study is still allowed because education is an essential service. But with the majority of classes now set up to provide learning in some form via online methods, we are seeing a huge reduction in on-campus attendance.

If you are on campus, please adhere to the social distancing guidance of remaining 2m away from others, and ensure you are washing your hands regularly. We have produced some videos to help explain these steps:

- Good Hygiene

- Social Distancing​

We are pleased to still be able to report that we have no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus on any of our Bendigo TAFE sites as at today, April 1st 2020.

We are seeing very few students around campus now with most classes moving to an online and remote delivery model, and of course many of our students are also on term break. But libraries are open should anyone need to use Moodle or access the internet.

To reiterate, as an essential service TAFEs are not subject to the new restrictions on social gatherings that came into force at midnight Monday. But to clarify, these do mean that if you are outside you home for anything other an essential outing, there can be no more than two of you together – excluding anyone who you already live with.

The Department of Health and Human Services has published the new rules so you can take a close look if you are unsure.

Having your classroom in your house will be a big change for many students and has no doubt led to a lot of creative approaches – we'd love to hear yours. Please send your tips and photos about "attending" class from home to corporatecommunications@kangan.edu.au

Here's a tall person's solution to not having a stand-up desk at home… not sure how the cats feel about sharing their scratching tower though!

Our Employment Centre is fully operational and offering our free assistance to all our current students and recent graduates. The friendly team has adapted operations in these unusual times, and now offers appointments online, on the phone and via email and will help with:

Contact them on 9279 2459 or 1300 484 335 or email employmentcentre@kangan.edu.au

The Australian Government has created a new app where it shares all its up to date information about coronavirus, including what to do if you think you have been exposed or if you have any health concerns. You can access the app here.

Good afternoon everyone.

Firstly, to reassure you, there are no known or suspected cases of COVID-19 at any of the Bendigo TAFE campuses as at 31 March 2020. Maintaining your strict social distancing and hygiene practices is playing a part in this and slowing the spread of the virus, thank you.

Stage 3 restrictions now in place

You may be aware that the Government moved to Stage 3 of its coronavirus response from midnight last night, and that means more restrictions on social gatherings. People may now only socialise with up to two other people other than those in their household. This is due to the thousands of people ignoring the health advice over the weekend to stay home and away from others, and if people are found to be in breach of these new rules, they can be fined $1600.

As an education facility we are an essential service, so this does not apply on our campuses. But we do ask that if you are working or studying on any of the Bendigo TAFE sites you practice good social distancing and of course, good personal hygiene.

Good afternoon,

We come to the end of another tough week, and one that has seen significant change for our organisation.

It is important to note that we end the week with no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus COVID-19. Maintaining your strict social distancing and hygiene practices is playing a part in this and slowing the spread of the virus, thank you.

It has been a week of phenomenal change for students and staff as we transitioned as many courses as possible into digital and remote delivery modes. Many are already up and running in the new formats successfully while some will take longer, and may have less adaptable components.

As a TAFE we are proud to be leading the way with our flexibility and ability to change quickly. Next week alone the automotive department will run over 100 individual classes through digital means – a huge change from the way we delivered courses even just two weeks ago. This is a credit to all staff and students.

As the majority of our students are now completing their course work off campus, it is timely to note that our library services are also available online.

The instruction from Government remains clear that we must continue to operate and support our students, and that applies to libraries. Providing this service using online channels also fulfils our obligations.

The libraries remain open for use by students who need to access Moodle or the internet.

The transition to digital delivery and working from home arrangements has had the most visible impact on our smaller campus sites. Visitors to our Castlemaine, Echuca and Moonee Ponds next week will be guided by signage to explain this digital delivery change, and ensure they can still contact who they need to by phone or online.

In crisis management terms, we are now at a point where a significant amount of operational change and readiness planning has been completed. The issues and concerns around the health of our staff and students on campus have eased.

From next week this daily communication will be more functional. It will provide updates on Bendigo TAFE operational matters, working for home advice, and also lighter content to keep us all connected while we work separately. We will be asking you to share your experiences in this new digital learning world too.

There will be the need for urgent, coronavirus-related communications to be shared but this will only be as required. That type of information will likely come directly from our Chief Executive Sally Curtain.

 

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

Regards,​

Bendigo TAFE

Good afternoon everyone,

As at 4.30pm Thursday 26 March there are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus at any of our campuses.

Our campuses are starting to look quite different however, as so many our courses are now being delivered using a range of online channels, and students are completing their courses from home. This shift in delivery is enabling us to remain operational as we are required to by the Government and we’d like to thank everyone for their flexibility.

If that situation changes, you will hear it from us in these updates. The decisions and changes made by other educational facilities will not necessarily apply to us, nor will the decisions Government makes for different industries and services. If in doubt about your work or course requirements, please just ask.

For those still on campus, it is good to see the social distancing guidelines being observed where practical. We understand that our legal requirement to stay open is confusing for some, especially as the general health advice is to work from home and isolate.

We have had further clarification from the Department of Education and Training today to reiterate that we must keep providing services for students, including library support. Our libraries are an integral part of our delivery of education and are not regarded as separate operations.

For students who do not have access to Moodle or the internet at home, you are welcome to use your campus library. Please make concerted efforts to respect our library staff and your fellow students. Ensure you are keeping an appropriate distance from other people, wash your hands thoroughly before entering the library and use hand sanitizer if it is available.

If you are sick with a cold or flu, do not use the library, do not go to class or work.​

Both remaining Bendigo Campus cafés at BTEC and Charleston Rd sites will temporarily close from tonight, including takeaway options. We will update you when the cafés are reopening.

The number of coronavirus cases is increasing across Australia as predicted. To slow that growth, we must all continue to be vigilant with our health and hygiene.

If you have concerns about your health, please follow the required coronavirus guidelines as issued by the Australian Government.​

Regards,​

Bendigo TAFE

Good afternoon,

There are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus at any of our campuses as at 4.30pm today, Wednesday 25 March.

We remain in daily contact with the Department of Education and Training about our obligations as an essential service. This has not changed and we must continue to remain operational in every aspect to deliver our quality education program to our students.

We are not subjected to the same restrictions as pubs, restaurants and public facilities like libraries, and we must remain open and operational so that our students are not disadvantaged. This means transitioning to digital and remote learning, and we are well underway with these changes where possible.

 

Your health and well being

We want to thank everyone for continuing to step up the hygiene practices. Hand washing will help slow the spread of this virus. You may also note our increased campus cleaning cycle. This now comprises a continuous 45-minute rotation to clean all kitchens, restrooms, mirrors, offices, meeting rooms, desk phones, doors and door handles.

 

TAFEs are considered an essential service and have different exemptions from restaurants, cafes, and pubs, but we do need everyone who is still working on site to practice responsible social distancing.

We appreciate this has been confusing. There is a lot of information coming out from Federal Government and State Government about this, and we are constantly seeking clarification in order to follow the correct instructions.

We need to be able to operate and teach, including in courses which have yet to move to a digital or remote teaching option.

Signage will be going up around campuses from today to remind everyone about the need to maintain social distancing.

We will keep you all updated if there are any changes to our operations.

Regards,

Bendigo TAFE

Good afternoon all,

As at 4pm Tuesday 24th March there are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus, and we want to continue to thank you for the efforts you are all making around social distancing and personal hygiene practices.

Yesterday the Department of Education and Training (DET) clarified our position as an essential service. This is why we must keep our doors open, but we are now allowed to move to digital or remote course delivery models. That means our facilities remain operational but that we will start to have less student activity and attendance on campus.

We appreciate that this is difficult for some people to understand, however it is not our decision to make and we must follow the Government instruction. The health advice given to the DET is that we are able to remain open and that we are exempt from the stricter social distancing rules seen at pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes. However, we must be sensible and take the health advice around hand washing and social distancing seriously.

In most instances, our course delivery will change. This will happen in different timeframes for different courses. Some will already be able to move to a fully digital learning experience and may do so quite quickly; others will take more time to set the new processes up.

Given the current situation and the serious moves in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus, these changes will continue for some time – this could be weeks or even months. At this point we do not know the time frame.

More details will be provided to you about your specific course information or teaching requirements as soon as possible but for now we continue as normal.

The transition to having less students and staff on campus has prompted the cafés at Broadmeadows and Docklands to close from today.

The Department of Education and Training is also sharing its general information on its website: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

More health-related information is available on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

Our coronavirus section of the intranet is the repository of all the information we are sharing and you can find that here.

As you will all be aware, this is an unprecedented global health emergency and the significant measures the Government has announced should be taken very seriously. We know people are concerned and worried, and it is absolutely understandable in this time of uncertainty. Your health and well-being is extremely important to us.